Physicochemical characteristics of high free fatty acid crude palm oil

The physicochemical properties of different grades of Malaysian crude palm oil (high free fatty acid crude palm oil (HFFA-CPO) and low free fatty acid crude palm oil (LFFA-CPO)) were analyzed in this study to determine their applicability as edible oils. The percentages of free fatty acids (FFAs%), iodine value, hydroxyl value, unsaponifiable value, moisture content for HFFA-CPO and LFFA-CPO were 8.7 ± 0.3 and 3.8 ± 0.1%; 53.1 ± 0.4 and 56 ± 0.3 g I2/100 g; 32.5 ± 0.6 and 18.5 ± 0.9 mg KOH/g oil; 0.31 ± 0.01 and 0.46 ± 0.02%; 0.31 ± 0.01 and 0.33 ± 0.01%, respectively. The fatty acid compositions were determined using a gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The results showed that the dominant fatty acids are palmitic acid (43.2%-44.4%) and oleic acid (39.8%-41.4%). The major triacylglycerols (TAGs) of HFFA-CPO and LFFA-CPO estimated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), were POP (30.8%-33.6%) and POO (24.9%-29.7%). In general, the physicochemical properties of HFFA-CPO and LFFA-CPO are consistent with the standard Malaysian crude palm oil, with the exception of FFAs%, hydroxyl value, moisture contents.