PALM KERNEL OIL
Palm kernel oil is an edible plant oil derived from the kernel of the oil palm. It should not be confused with the other two edible oils derived from palm fruits: Coconut oil, extracted from the kernel of the coconut, and palm oil extracted from the pulp of the oil palm fruit.
Palm kernel oil, coconut oil, and palm oil are three of the few highly saturated vegetable fats. Palm kernel oil, which is semi-solid at room temperature, is more saturated than palm oil and comparable to coconut oil. Like all vegetable oils, these three palm-derived oils do not contain cholesterol (found in unrefined animal fats), although saturated fat intake increases both LDL and HDL cholesterol.
Palm kernel oil is commonly used in commercial cooking because it is lower in cost than other oils and remains stable at high cooking temperatures. The oil can also be stored longer than other vegetable oils. Palm kernel oil does not contain cholesterol or trans fatty acids.
Nutrition
Palm kernel oil is composed of fatty acids esterifies with glycerol, like any fat. It is high in saturated fatty acids, about 80%. The oil palms give the name to the 16-carbon saturated fatty acid palmitic acid found in palm kernel oil, palm oil, and coconut oil.
The approximate concentration of fatty acids (FAs) in palm kernel oil is as follows:
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Fatty acid content of palm kernel oil |
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Type of fatty acid |
pct |
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Lauric saturated C12 |
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48.2% |
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Myristic saturated C14 |
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16.2% |
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Palmitic saturated C16 |
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8.4% |
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Capric saturated C10 |
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3.4% |
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Caprylic saturated C8 |
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3.3% |
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Stearic saturated C18 |
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2.5% |
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Oleic monounsaturated C18 |
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15.3% |
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Linoleic polyunsaturated C18 |
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2.3% |
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Other/Unknown |
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0.4% |
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Splitting of oils and fats by hydrolysis, or under basic conditions saponification, yields fatty acids, with glycerin (glycerol) as a byproduct. The split-off fatty acids are a mixture ranging from C4 to C18, depending on the type of oil/fat.
Resembling coconut oil, palm kernel oil is packed with myristic and lauric fatty acids and therefore suitable for the manufacture of soaps, washing powders and personal care products. Lauric acid is important in soap making: a good soap must contain at least 15 per cent laurate for quick lathering, while soap made for use in sea water is based on virtually 100 per cent laurate.
Derivatives of palmitic acid were used in combination with naphtha during 2nd World War to produce napalm (aluminum naphthenate and aluminum palmitate).