KENYA STANDARD       DKS 2466:2018  
ICS 67.080.10  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Coppra  — Specification  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                      
                   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© KEBS 201 8          First Edition 201 8 
 
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT  
 
 DKS 2466: 201 8 
 
ii  © KEBS 201 8 — All rights reserved  TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPRESENTATION  
 
The following organizations were represe nted on the Technical Committee:  
 
Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI)  
Kaloleni Coconut Development Project  
Precious Food  
Tezo/Roka Farners Co -operative Society  
Sereni Kenya  
Pwani University  
Rumorth Group of Companies  
Amua Self help Gro up  
Honest Indusries Limited  
Export Promotion Council  
Kentaste  Products Limited  
Pwani Aloe Vera  
Mnazi  Development Enterprise  
New Galana Farmers Co -operative Society  
Msambweni Coconut Producers  
Tarumbeta Women Group  
Palm International  
T.M. Abdulhusse in & Sons (Minara)  
Wakesho Women Group  
Pate Self help Group  
County Council of Lamu  
Kenya Coconut Development Authority (KCDA)  
Kenya Bureau of Standards — Secretariat  
 
 
 
REVISION OF KENYA STANDARDS  
 
In order to keep abreast of progress in industry, Kenya S tandards shall be regularly reviewed. Suggestions 
for improvements to published standards, addressed to the Managing Director, Kenya Bureau of Standards , 
are welcome.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kenya Bureau of Standards, 20 18 
 
Copyright.  Users are   reminded that by virtue o f Section 25 of the Copyright Act, Cap. 12 of 2001 of the Laws of Kenya, copyright 
subsists in all Kenya Standards and except as provided under Section 26 of this Act, no Kenya Standard produced by Kenya Bure au of 
Standards may be reproduced, stored in a r etrieval system in any form or transmitted by any means without prior permission in writing 
from the Managing Director.  
 
 
 
 
 KENYA STANDARD         DKS 2466:2018  
ICS 67.080.10  
© KEBS 201 8 — All rights reserved    iii  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Coppra  — Specification  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KENYA BUREAU OF STANDARDS (KEBS)  
 
Head Office:  P.O. Box 54974, Nairobi -00200, Tel.: (+254 020) 605490, 602350, Fax: (+254 020) 604031  
E-Mail: info@kebs.org,  Web:http://www.kebs.org   
 
Coast Region                                                        Lake Region          Rift Valley Region  
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Tel.: (+254 041) 229563, 230939/40   Tel.: (+254 057) 23549, 22396        Tel.: (+254 051) 210553, 210555  
Fax: (+254 041) 229448     Fax: (+254 057) 21814  
 DKS 2466: 201 8 
 
iv  © KEBS 201 8 — All rights reserved  Foreword  
 
Kenya Bureau of Standards is a na tional standards bod y (NSB). The work of preparing Kenya  Standards is 
normally carried out through national  technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for 
which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. 
National  organizations, governmental and non -governmental, in liaison with KEBS , also take part in the 
work.  
Kenya  Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the KS ISO/IEC  Directives, Part  2. 
The main task of technical  committees is to prepare National  Standards. Draft Kenya  Standards adopted by 
the technical committees are circulated to the technical committee member s for ballo ting. Publication as a 
Kenya  Standard requires approval by at least 2/3 of the member s castin g a vote.  
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent 
rights. KEBS  shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.  
This Kenya Standard  was prepared by Technical Committee KEBS /TC 171, Coconut and Coconut Related 
Products and Services . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 KENYA STANDARD         DKS 2466:2018  
ICS 67.080.10  
© KEBS 201 8 — All rights reserved    v Introduction  
 
Copra  is the dried meat, or kernel, of the coconut . Coconut oil  extracted from it has made copra an important 
agricultural commodity for many coconut producing countries. It also yields coconut cake which is mainly 
used as feed for livestock.  
 
Copra has traditionally been grated and ground , then boiled in water to extract coconut oil . It was long used 
by pacific island cult ures and became a valuable commercial product for merchants in the south seas  and 
South Asia  in the ye ar of 1860s. Nowadays, the process of coconut oil extraction is done by crushing copra 
to produce coconut oil (70%); the by -product is known as copra cake or copra meal (30%). Once the oil is 
extracted, the remaining coconut cake is 18 -25% protein  but contains so much dietary fib re it can not be 
eaten in large quantities by humans. Instead , it is normally fed to ruminants . 
 
Halved nuts are drained of water, and left with the meat facing the sky; they can be washed to remove mold -
creating contaminant s. After two days , the meat can be removed from the shell with ease, and the drying 
process is complete after three to five more days (up to seven total). Sun drying is often combined with kiln 
drying, eight hours of exposure to sunlight means the time spe nt in a kiln can be reduced by a day and the 
hot air the shells are exposed to in the kiln is more easily able to remove the remaining moisture. This 
process can also be reversed, partially drying the copra in the kiln and finishing the process with sunlig ht. 
There are advantages and disadvantages to both — starting with sun drying requires careful inspection to 
avoid contamination with mold while starting with kiln -drying can harden the meat and prevent it from drying 
out completely in the sun. In India, s mall but whole coconuts can be dried over the course of eight months to 
a year, and the meat inside removed and sold as a whole ball. Meat prepared in this fashion is sweet, soft, 
oily and is cream -colored instead of being white. Coconut meat can be dried using direct heat and smoke 
from a fire, using simple racks to suspend the coconut over the fire. The smoke residue can help preserve 
the half -dried meat but the process overall suffers from unpredictable results and the risk of fires.  
 
Copra meal is used as fodder  for horses and cattle. Its high oil levels and protein are fattening for stock. The 
unique benefits of copra meal for horses and cattle have been researched by Dr T.J. Kempton . The pro tein 
in copra meal has been heat treated and provides a source of high quality protein for cattle, sheep and deer, 
because it does not break down in the rumen . 
 
Coconut oil can be extracted using either mechanical expellers, or solvents ( hexane ). Mechanical expelled 
copra meal is of higher feeding value, because it contains typically 8 -12 % oil, whereas the solvent extracted 
copra meal c ontains only 2 -4 % oil. Premium quality copra meal can also contain 20 -22% crude protein, and 
<20ppb aflatoxin .  
 
High quality copra meal contains <12  % non -structural carbohydrate (NSC)  which makes this product well 
suited for feeding to all horses that are prone to ulcers, insulin resistance, colic, tying up, and acidosis . Copra 
has been classed as a dangerous  good  due to its spontaneously combustive nature. It is identified as a 
Division 4.2  substance. It has been forbidden by Organization (ICAO) fr om flight without the express written 
permission of a state  authorized agency.  
 
 
 
  
KENYA STANDARD        DKS 2466: 201 8 
 
 
© KEBS 201 8 — All rights reserved    1  
Coppra — Specification  
 
 
1 Scope  
 
This Kenya Standard  specifies requirements and test methods for cop pra. 
 
2 Definitions  
 
For the purposes of this Kenya Standard , the following definition  apply.  
 
2.1 
copra  
pieces of kernels obtained from the fruits of mature Cocos nucifera  Linn.  and sun dried or he at dried directly 
or indirectly  
 
3 Grades  
 
Copra shall be classif ied into 3 grades viz -a-viz; 
 
i) Grade 1  
ii) Grade 2  
iii) Grade 3  
 
4  Requirements  
 
4.1  General requirements   
 
The good copra shall be made of mature fruit and when dried, it shall be hard and fragile. The external 
surface shall be brown, smooth, free f rom mould or insect or other foreign matter and free from rancid odour 
or objectionable odour . 
 
4.2  Characteristic quality of each grade shall comply with  the requirements given in  Table 1.  
 
 
Table 1 — Characteristic quality of copra (clause 4.2)  
 
Item Grade 1  Grade 2  Grade 3  Analysis  
as clause  
Moisture content % by weight, max.  5 6 7 10.2 
Oil content (on dry basis) % by weight, min.  64 62 60 10.3 
Free fatty  acid (as lauric acid)  % by weight, max.  1 2 5 10.4 
Aflatoxin B1 content, mg/1000 kg  Not found  Not found  Not found  10.5 
Mould pieces % by weight, max.  None  5 10 10.6 
Impurities percent by weight, max.  0.5 1 2 10.7 
Charred or black pieces % by weight, max.  None  4 8 10.8 
Colour of the expelled oil, max.  4 7 11 10.9 
 
 DKS 2466: 201 88 
2  © KEBS 201 8 — All rights reserved  5 Hygiene  
 
To the extent possi ble in Good Manufacturing Practice , the product shall be free from objectionable matter 
such as fungi spores, soil, stains (chemical) , among others.  
 
6 Container  
 
The coppra that has been processed shall be packed in appropriate container.  
 
7 Weights and measures  
 
Net weight of each container shall not be less than that declared on the label.  
 
8 Marking and labelling   
 
8.1  The package shall be clearly and indelibly marked by figures, letters or code clearly and legibly 
indicating the following:  
 
i) Name of the product "Copra" ;  
ii) Grades;  
iii) Net weight in SI Unit ;  
iv) Name of manufacturer or trade mark or name of distributor ; 
v) Country of origin . 
 
8.2 In the case foreign language is used, the meaning shall correspond to that in Kiswahili.  
 
9 Sampl ing and criteria for conformity  
 
Unless otherwise agreed upon, the method o f sampling shall be, as follows:  
 
9.1 Lot 
 
 All the product manufactured at the same time.  
 
9.2 Sampling  
 
The sample shall be drawn at random from the same lot complying with sampling  plan given in Table 2.   
 
Table 2  —  Sampling plan  
 
Lot size c ontainer  Sample size c ontainer  
 
10 to 50  3 
51 to 100  4 
101 to 200  5 
201 to 300  7 
301 to 800  8 
801 to 1300  9 
1301 and over  min. 1% 
 
9.3 Prep aration of the composite sample  
 
The sample dr awn shall be mixed thoroughly. If necessary, additional samples shall be taken to make up the 
total weight of 9 kg. In case the total sample is more than 9 kg, it shall be decreased to 9 kg by, quartering. 
The sample obtained shall be then divided into 3 e qual portions, kept in a clean and hermetically sealed DKS 2466: 201 8 
 
© KEBS 201 8 — All rights reserved    3 container and labelled with name of sampler and date of sampling. One portion of sample shall be subjected 
to the test and the other two shall be taken back to the  factory.  
 
9.4  Criteria for conformit y  
 
The lot shall be considered as conforming to this standard provided that the test results on sample obtained 
from clause 9.3 meet all the requirements specified in clause 4.  
 
 DKS 2466: 201 88 
4  © KEBS 201 8 — All rights reserved  Annex  A 
(normative)  
 
Test methods  
 
A.1 Preparation of the sample .  
 
About 200 g of the sample of clause 9.3 having been assessed as provided for in clauses 10.6, 10.7, 10.8 
shall be ground finely enough to pass through the 1.00 mm sieve and transfer to a well stoppered glass 
bottle so as to be used for chemical analysis . 
 
A.2 Moisture content  
 
This enhances mould growth in the copra and brings about decay.  
 
A.2.1  Apparatus  
 
2.1.1 Weighing balance , having readability of 4 significant figures .  
 
2.1.2   Aluminium dish of 4. 5 cm, of diameter together with the cover . 
 
2.1.3  Electric air oven , equipped with thermostat . 
 
2.1.4  Desiccator , containing an efficient desiccant . 
 
A.2.2  Procedure  
 
Weigh accurately about 5 g of the fine copra in a dried and weighed aluminium dish provided with a lid. Heat 
the uncovered dish and its lid in an el ectric oven at 100 -102 °C for a period of 2 h . Then remove from the 
oven and immediately cover the lid. Cool in a desiccator to room temperature and weigh. Repeat this 
process for an hour, heating, cooling and weighing until the difference in weight betwee n two successive 
weighing is less than 1 mg.  
 
A.2.3  Calculation  
 
Moisture content, % by weight =

W - WW - W 100
12 1  
where,  
 
W= weight in g of the aluminum dish,  
 
W1= weight in g of the aluminum dish and the sample before drying, and  
 
W2= weight in g of  the aluminum dish and the sample after drying,  
 
A.3 Oil content  
 
A.3.1 Apparatus  
 
A.3.1.1   Soxhlet apparatus , with a suitable thimble for containing 10 g of sample or other suitable 
extractor . 
 
A.3.1.2   Water bath  
 
A.3.1.3  Glass mortar  DKS 2466: 201 8 
 
© KEBS 201 8 — All rights reserved    5  
A.3.2  Reagent  
 
A.3.2.1   Petroleum ether, B.P. 40 °- 60°C.  
 
A.3.3  Procedure  
 
Weigh accurately about 10 g of the sample dried as described in clause A.2.2 in a thimble. Place the thimble 
in the Soxhlet extractor, or its equivalent, under which a weighed flask has been plac ed, extract with 
petroleum ether for 6 h . Remove the thimble from the extractor and dry it. Transfer the contents to a glass 
mortar and grind as finely as possible. Return the ground material to the thimble; wash out the mortar with 
petroleum ether and add  to the extractor. Repeat the extraction with pet roleum ether for another 2 h . 
Evaporate off the solvent on water bath to remove all solvent. Dry the oil in an o ven at 100 -102 °C for 30 
min. Cool in a desiccator and weigh. Repeat the process for 30 min  heating and cooling until the difference 
in-weight between two successive weighings is less than 1 mg. Record the lowest weight.  
 
A.3.4   Calculation  
Oil content (on dry basis), % by weight =

 WW - W 100
12 1  
where, 
W= weight in g of the dried sample,  
 
W1= weight in g of the Soxhlet flask with the extracted oil, and  
 
W2= weight in g of the empty Soxhlet.  
 
A.4 Free fatty acid  
 
A.4.1  Apparatus  
 
A.4.1.1   250 cm3 Erlenmeyer flask . 
 
A.4.2  Reagent, solution and preparation  
 
A.4.2.1  Standard sodium hydroxide sol ution or potassium hydroxide solution -0.1 mole/dm3. 
 
A.4.2.2  Phenolphthalein indicator solution prepared by dissolving 1 g of phenolphthalein in ethyl  alcohol (95 
% by volume) and dilute to 100 cm3 with ethyl alcohol.  
 
A.4.2.3   Mixture of ethy l alcohol an d diethyl ether, 1: 1 by volume, neutralized to phenolphthalein with 
standard solution as clause A.4.2.1.  
 
A.4.3  Procedure  
 
Weight accurately about 5 g of the oil extrac ted by method given in A.3.3 in a 250 -cm3 Erlenmeyer flask. Add 
50 cm3 of mixture in cla use A .4.2.3 and shake well to dissolve the oil. Add 2 to 3 drops of phenolphthalein 
indicator and titrate with standard sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide solution until a definite pink 
colour persists for at least 15 s . 
 
A.4.4  Calculation  
 
Fatty acid  (as lauric acid), % by weight of e xtracted oil =
WMV a
  1000100  200  
  
 DKS 2466: 201 88 
6  © KEBS 201 8 — All rights reserved  where,  
 
V= volume in cm3 of standard sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide solution,  
 
M= concentration  of standard sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide solution in mole/dm3, and 
 
W= weight in  g of the oil.  
 
NOTE   Remark
a  means molecular weight of lauric acid . 
A.5 Aflatoxin B1 content  
 
A.5.1  Apparatus  
 
A.5.1.1   Soxhlet apparatus , with a suitable thimble for containing 10 g of sample or other suitable 
extract or. 
 
A.5.1.2   Chromatographic -plate , 200 x 200 mgr, including stand and developing tank .  
 
A.5.1.3   250 cm3 conical flask , and glass stopper . 
 
A.5.1.4   Graduated pipette , readable from 0 to 5 cm3. 
 
A.5.1.5   Thin layer coater  
 
A.5.1.6   UV lamp  
 
A.5.1.7  Desi ccator , suitable for containing the ch romatographic plate of clause A .5.1.2  
 
A.5.2  Reagent, solution and preparation  
 
A.5.2.1   Petroleum ether , B.P. 40 -60 °C 
 
A.5.2.2   Mixture of chloroform and ethyl alcohol , 99: 1 by volume  
 
A.5.2.3   Diethyl ether  
 
A.5.2 .4  Mixture of ch loroform and methyl alcohol , 19:1 by volume.  
 
A.5.2.5  Mixture of silica gel "G" and water , prepared by dissolving 25 g of silica gel "G" in Erlenmeyer 
flask with 50 cm 3 of distil led water and -shake for 1 min . 
 
A.5.2.6  Nitrogen gas  
 
A.5.3  Procedure  
 
A.5.3.1  Coating of chromatographic plate  
 
Transfer mixture of silica gel "G" and water into a thin layer coater and uniformly coat the plate to the 
thickness of 250 m. Keep the coated plate on the stand and allow to air dry for 10 min. Then hea t in an oven 
at 70 °C for 2 h  and cool in a desiccator.  
 
A.5.3.2  The extraction of 3:1 from the sample.  
 
Weigh accurately about 10 g of the sample prepared as in Clause A.1 and dry it as the method specified in 
A.2.2. Extract oil wit h petroleum ether for  8 h in the -Soxhlet apparatu s. Regulate the siphon rate to 1  cycles 
per tour. Dry the residue in a thimble at the temperature of 60 °C.  
A.5.3.3  The extraction of aflatoxin B1  
 DKS 2466: 201 8 
 
© KEBS 201 8 — All rights reserved    7 Extract th e copra obtained from clause. A .5.3.2 with the mixture of chlorofo rm and ethyl alcohol for 4 h  in a 
Soxhlet apparatus with siphon rate of 6 cycles per hour. Evaporate off the solvent in the Soxhlet flask on a 
water bath and at the same time pass nitrogen gas into the extracted content till it dries. Pipette 2.5 cm3 of 
the m ixture of chloroform and ethyl alcohol into it and mix well.  
 
A.5.3.4  Determination of aflatoxin B1  
 
Drop 20 x 10-3 cm3 of the solution obtained from A.5.3.3 on to the chromatographic plate coated as clause 
A.5.3.1 at the position of 1.5 cm away from the lower seam. Dry and vertically place the plate in the 
developing tank containing diethyl ether. Cover the lid and allow standing until a proper solvent front is 
obtained (approximately 12 cm) in order to expel oil or other substances soluble in diethyl eth er from 
aflatoxin. Remove the plate from the developing tank and allow drying. Then vertically replace in the 
developing tank containing mixture of chloroform and methyl alcohol and cover the lid. Allow standing till a 
proper solvent front is obtained (app roximately 10 cm). Remove the plate and let dry. Inspect the 
fluorescence emitted from the aflatoxin which dissociated itself from the sample under ultra violet condition 
the Rf value is about 0.55. Lack of fluorescence indicates the absence of aflatoxin B 1. 
 
A.6 Mouldy pieces  
 
Weigh accurately all t he sample obtained from 9 .3. Separate the mouldy pieces. The whole mouldy pieces 
and mouldy parts cut -off shall be weighed. Report the result as percent by weight.  
 
A.7 Impurities  
 
Examine the rest of the sample  from clause A.6  for other impurities such as soil, straw, sand or shell. Brush 
pieces of samples thoroughly so as to remove all adhering impurities both from internal and external 
surfaces of the kernel. Collect and weigh the impurities. Report the result  as percent by weight.  
 
A.8 Charred or blank pieces  
 
Examine the rest  of the sample from C lause A.7 . Separate and weigh the blank pieces. Report the result as 
percent by weight.  
 
A.9 Colour of the expelled oil  
 
Determination of colour of the expelled oil i s made by comparing oil colour with the standard colour plate.  
 
A.9.1  Apparatus  
 
A.9.1.1   Lovibond tintometer or colorimeter  
 
A.9.1.2  25.4 mm (1 in) glass cell  
 
A.9.2  Method of test  
 
A.9.2.1  The oil for colour comparison shall be clarified by means of fil tration at room temperature or at the 
temperature not exceeding 10  °C – 15 °C of the boiling point of oil or fat. Prior to filtration, diatomaceous 
earth may be added with the amount of 0.5 g/300 g of oil. S tir well for 2.5 min  and filter with Whatman filt er 
paper No.12 or its equivalent.  
 
A.9.2.2   Fill the filtered oil from A.9.2.1 in a glass cell. Read the colour value of red and yellow from the 
Lovibond scale at the temperature specified in A.9.2.1  
 
A.9.2.3   Colour value shall be calculated by the follo wing formula. colour value = Y + 5 R where Y = the 
total of yellow obtained R = the total of red obtained.