COMPOSITION OF THE OIL IN PALM KERNEL FROM ELAEIS-GUINEENSIS

The composition of oil from the outer, middle, and inner section of pa lm kernel had been evaluated by gas-liquid chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques: The composition was not homogenous thro ughout the kernel and was found to be more unsaturated in the outer ke rnel. The inner core of the kernel is less unsaturated, having a highe r lauric content. The variation in the iodine value from the outer to inner section of the kernel suggested that composition of palm kernel oil was affected by the kernel size. This was found to be true, as sma ll kernels tend to have oil with higher iodine value than do larger ke rnels.