FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION AND TOCOPHEROL CONTENT OF AMAZONIAN PALM OILS

The characteristics of oils recovered from seeds of Astrocaryum chambi ra and A. urostachys have been evaluated. The gas chromatographic anal yses showed that lauric and myristic acids are predominant fatty acids accounting for 50.8 - 52.3 and 26.2 - 28.1 % of the total, respective ly; thus, resembling closely to palm kernel stearines. Tocotrienols we re the major antioxidants present in both Astrocaryum chambira and A. urostachys Kernel oils. Application of these oils in the confectionery industry without use of any fractionation techniques is recommended.