Palm oils

Applications:
Bakery (cookies, wafers, etc) & Cream Fillings Wafers
Biscuits
Candies
Frying
Industrial Ice Cream
Snacks & Spraying Processes
Toasts

Palm oil is a reddish-orange oil extracted from the pulp of the fruit of the African palm which originated from the Elaeis guineensis tree of West Guinea. It has been used for more than 5,000 years. Although it is native to western Africa it is extensively cultivated in other tropical countries. The fruits are arranged in large bunches, each of which may carry up to 20 pounds of fruit. The oval shaped fruits are 1 to 2 inches long and an inch or more in diameter. The fruits of the African palm contain between 30 and 70 percent of nondrying oil. The seeds of the fruit, the seed kernels also contain oil.

Oil Extraction and/or Expression Methods/Purification:

There are various methods used to extract the palm oil from the pulp and the seed. The method used most extensively is pressing the pulp to remove the oil. The pulp is macerated, pressed and then put in a centrifuge. Then the pulp is placed in boiling water because the oil floats to the top. Next, the solution is cooled and finally the oil is skimmed off the top of the water. The kernel oil is extracted by crushing and pressing or can be done with the help of solvents. After the oil is extracted it is heated at high temperatures to sterilize and purify it. Below is a palm oil distillery.

Commodities/ Uses of Palm Oil:

In 1870, palm oil was introduced in Malaysia as an ornamental plant. The first commercial plantings were undertaken in 1917. It was not until the 1960's that production of palm oil was greatly expanded, to help reduce the economic dependence on rubber and coffee, which then represented the major sources of exchange revenue. Today, Malaysia is the largest producer and exporter of palm oil in the world, and palm oil provides about 10 percent of the Malaysian gross domestic product. In 1989, Malaysia produced 6.05 million tons of crude palm oil which accounted for 58.56% of the world production of that commodity.

Palm oil has a variety of different uses ranging from constituents of vegetable oil to use in textiles. In terms of composition, palm oil has a high solid glyceride content which gives a desired consistency without hydrogenation. Because of its composition it is used quite extensively in cooking and found in a variety of foods, including cakes and bakery products. Palm oil is also used in soaps and candles. Palm-kernel oil is high in saturated fat which makes it good for use in the manufacture of margarine and cosmetics.

Palm oils contain many vitamins including; vitamin E, A and beta-carotene which promote good night vision, health of mucous membranes and skin, and the growth of bone. Palm oil plays a role in the body's use of fat which includes; energy reserve, thermal insulation, organ protection, tissue membrane structure and cell metabolism. Studies have shown that a palm oil enriched diet does not raise blood cholesterol and even leads to lower plasma cholesterol levels. The image below shows the height to which palms can grow.