BENEFITS OF PALM OIL
Health
One of the product from oil palm is palm oil. Palm oil usually used as cooking oil and in the production of margarine. Palm oil can increase the good cholesterol and reducing the bad cholesterol, and consumption of palm oil does not increase the risk of cerebrovascular disease. It is because palm vitamin E tocotrienols has antioxidant effects, cholesterol lowering properties and possible anti-cancer activities. Pro-vitamin A carotenoids can be retained through a process from the development of red palm oil technology. Its consumption can restore vision of children that have risk of going blind due to vitamin A deficiency.
Industry
Palm oil also can be use in soap manufacturing and in production of oleochemicals, such as fatty acids and alkyl esters. Washing and cleaning agents, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, lubricants and plastics are example of oleochemical products. They are also used in a number of other industries such as paper, leather, rubber and textile. Products from oleochemicals are natural, so they are biodegradable and non-toxic. Thus, they are easy to dispose and contribute to a healthy environment.
Biofuel
Researches of palm oil have found that it can produce palm oil methyl ester, a biodiesel. It is created through a process called trans-esterification. The performance of engines using palm biodiesel is good. It allows the engines start easily and run smoothly with less smoke. The palm biodiesel is more environmentally friendly as it reduced the hydrocarbon, nitric oxides, carbon monoxides and sulphur dioxide in the exhaust fumes and it is biodegradable, where up to 98% biodegrades within three weeks. Beside the fuel consumption of palm biodiesel is more efficient rather than using petroleum diesel.
