Palm oil and palm kernel oil in food products

Cocoa butter equivalent (CBE) formulation, especially the compatibility of palm oil based CBE with cocoa butter, is of special interest to chocolate manufacturers. Traditionally palm oil is fractionated to obtain high-melting stearin and olein with a clear point of around 25 C, the latter serving as cooking oil. Recently, palm oil has been fractionated to recover an intermediate fraction known as palm mid-fraction (PMF), which is suitable for CBE formulations. Generally, production of PMF is based on a three-step procedure. However, a dry fractionation system, which includes selective crystallization and removal of liquid olein by means of a hydraulic press, has been developed. Iodine value, solid content (SFI) at different temperatures, cooling curves (Shukoff 0°) and triglyceride/fatty acid composition determination confirmed effectiveness of the procedure followed. A direct relationship between yield, quality of PMF and crystallization temperature during fractionation has been achieved. Yield of 60% for olein of IV 64–67 has been achieved. Yield of 30% for PMF of IV 36–38 and 10% for high melting stearin of IV of 20–22 are also being achieved. High-melting stearin may be used in oleochemical applications, soaps, food emulsifiers and other industrial applications such as lubricating oil. Olein fraction, especially after flash hydrogenation thereby reducing the IV to 62/64, has excellent frying and cooking oil characteristics. Palm olein is also suitable as dietary fat and in infant formulation. Studies on interesterification of high-melting stearin with olein showed possibilities to formulate hardstocks for margarine and spread formulations, even without using hydrogenated fat components. Palm kernel and coconut fats or fractions or derived products are used for confectionery products as partial CB replacers and as ice cream fats and coatings. Coconut oil also serves as a starting material for the production of medium-chain triglycerides.     

Aqueous-enzymatic extraction of plum kernel oil

An aqueous-enzymatic extraction process of plum kernel oil was investigated on a laboratory scale, varying several processing parameters, with main emphasis on the oil yield. Efficient recovery of oil was related to three operations: pretreatment, enzymatic reaction and separation of oil. Maximum oil yield of about 70% (estimated by the Soxhlet method) was obtained at an enzyme concentration of 0.5%, extraction temperature of 45°C, pH 4.5, treatment time of 1 h and dilution ratio of 1:4. The aqueous-enzymatic extraction did not have any determining effect on the fatty acid composition, tocopherol composition, iodine value and saponification value. The free fatty acid content was higher, while the phosphatide content and peroxide value were lower in the oil extracted by the aqueous-enzymatic process as compared to the Soxhlet extracted samples.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of walnut kernel oil

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the main process parameters on supercritical fluid extraction of walnut (Juglans regia L.) kernel oil. The recovery of walnut kernel oil was performed in a green and high-tech separation process. CO₂ and CO₂ + ethanol mixtures were used as the supercritical solvent. The extraction was carried out at operating pressures of 30, 40 and 50 MPa, operating temperatures of 313, 323 and 333 K, mean particle sizes of 1.78×10⁻⁴, 3.03×10⁻⁴, 4.78×10⁻⁴, 7.00×10⁻⁴ and 9.00×10⁻⁴ m, supercritical CO₂ (SC CO₂) flow rates of 1.67×10⁻⁸, 3.33×10⁻⁸, 6.67×10⁻⁸ and 13.33×10⁻⁸ m³/s and entrainer (ethanol) concentrations of 2, 4, 8 and 12 vol-%. Maximum extraction yield and oil solubility in SC CO₂ obtained at 50 MPa, 333 K, 9.00×10⁻⁴ m, 3.33×10⁻⁴ m³/h were 0.65 kg oil/kg of dry sample and 37.16 g oil/kg CO₂, respectively. The results obtained in this study showed that the crossover pressure effect of walnut kernel oil was at 30 MPa. At 30 MPa and 313 K, the obtained extraction yields above 4 vol-% ethanol reached the organic solvent extraction yield of 68.5 kg oil/kg dry sample. Extraction time was decreased significantly because of the higher solubility of walnut kernel oil in SC CO₂ + ethanol mixtures.     

Palm oil

Since its arrival in Malaysia as an ornamental plant in 1897, the oil palmEleais guineensis has achieved a position of economic significance to Malaysia. With a current annual production of 2.8 million tons, palm oil has ceased to be traded as a true primary commodity since it is predominantly traded in semi- and fully processed forms. Although palm oil may be handled by classical refining techniques, steam-refining is gaining in popularity for economic and environmental reasons. With the application of physical refining techniques, due attention must be paid to the consequences of mishandling the minor constituents present in palm oil if consistent product integrity is to be achieved and maintained.     

Jaocs news feature: malaysian palm oil

Palm oil is growing rapidly in importance as an export oil. The Malaysian palm oil development is described, and predictions are that it will supply 1,400,000 tons of oil by 1975 and 1,750,000 tons by 1980. Production in 1971 was ca. 580,000 tons. Presented at the 49th Annual Congress of the International Association of Seed Crushers, Kyoto, Japan, May 1972.     

Steam (physical) refining deodorizer for malaysian palm oil

The production of Malaysian palm oil is expected to increase 20% per year for the next 5 yr. Already planted are more than a million acres which will start to produce in the next few years. Recent plantings of new strains will produce 2400 to 3000 lb of palm oil per acre. Palmex Industries, Penang, Malaysia started in operation in August, 1975, a physical refining system to produce a deodorized palm oil with 0.03% free fatty acid (FFA) from crude palm oil containing 5.0% FFA. Production records confirm the feasibility of physical refining crude palm oil in Malaysia, ex-porting the oil to the United States, and producing a quality product with a minimum of additional pro-cessing.     

Palm oil and palm kernels

Events leading up to the introduction of the pollinating weevil (Elaeidobius kamerunicus) into Malaysian plantations are described, and the effect of this on the industry is discussed. The main benefits so far are increased kernels and savings in estate pollination costs. It is as yet too early to assess other benefits. The changes in bunch composition have given rise to some processing problems, i.e., sterilization and nut processing, which are currently being corrected. There have been no major changes in processing procedures, but process developments, such as the use of decanters, computerization, steam utilization and quality improvements, are being made. A review of effluent treatment from palm oil mills shows that most mills conform to government standards using mostly biological digestion processes and land application. Research and development projects are discussed. These include tissue culture and utilization of byproducts.     

Palm kernel shell as a lightweight aggregate for concrete

These concrete mixes of widely differing water/cement ratios were made using palm kernel shell as course aggregate. The properties tested include the physical properties of the shell, the compressive, flexural and tensile splitting strengths of the concrete. These properties were compared with those of similar concrete specimens made with crushed granite as course aggregate. Results of the tests suggest that palm kernel shell cannot produce concrete with compressive strength above 30 MPa. However, for concrete grade 25 and below, the material was found to compare favourably with other conventional aggregate such as crushed granite.     

Ouricury palm kernel oil

A small sample of ouricury palm fruits from Florida, as well as the oil expressed from the kernels imported from Brazil have been investigated. The fruits consisted of 47.5 per cent of pulp and 52.5 per cent of palm nut, of which the kernel amounted to 23.8 per cent. On the basis of the whole fruit, the oil in the pulp only amounted to 0.9 per cent. The kernels from Brazil contained 69.7 per cent of oil, some of the characteristics of which were as follows: Saponification value, 256.9, iodine number (Hanus), 14.69, thiocyanogen value, 12.78, Reichert-Meissl value, 5.93, Polenske number, 18.38, and unsaponifiable matter, 0.27 per cent. The percentages of fatty acids found in the oil were as follows: Caproic 1.66, caprylic 9.10, capric 7.64, lauric 42.7, myristic 8.43, palmitic 7.15, stearic 2.15, arachidic 0.96, oleic 12.18, and linoleic acid 2.04 per cent. Attention has been called to the importance of not assuming the presence in distilled ester fractions of the lower homologues of oleic acid from deductions made only from calculations using the iodine number and saponification value of the fraction without confirmation by other evidence. The present investigation has shown the danger of such assumptions. Carbohydrate Research Division, Bureau of Chemistry and Soils, U. S. Department of Agriculture     

Palm oil products in cooking fats

Palm oil and its products are used widely, either on their own or in combination with other oils and fats, to make products for cooking and other applications such as baking, icing, filling and topping. Palm oil and its products are not only cheaper to process but also impart into the product the functional properties demanded by some of these applications. Legislation governing production and marketing of these products in some of the important countries is reviewed. The physico-chemical characteristics of products marketed in different countries are also presented. Formulations based on palm oil and its products are suggested to make low or notrans acid fats and high PUFA fats.