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This study aimed at extracting and characterizing palm kernel oil from oil palm seed for laundry soap production. Palm kernel oil was obtained by Soxhlet extraction with n-hexane. Standard methods were used to determine the physicochemical properties of the kernel oil and laundry soap. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses were used to characterize the oil. Results revealed that the palm kernel seed yielded 45.51±1.10% oil. Relative density, saponification value, acid value, and iodine value of the oil were 0.87±0,034 g/mL, 224.40±3.13 mg KOH/g, 3.25±0.11 mgKOH/g, and 14.72±0.25 gI2/100g, respectively. FTIR spectrum showed absorption peaks of methylene groups (723, 2855, 2922 cm–1), carbonyl group (1744 cm–1), and olefin group (1632 cm–1) which are characteristics of fatty acids. GC-MS analysis showed oleic acid, trans-13-octadecenoic acid, elaidic acid, petroselinic acid and vaccenic acid. Quality parameters of the white and hard palm kernel oil soap were found to be 9.55±0.43, 5.20±0.48 cm, 9.65±0.97% and 72.50±2.34% for the pH, foam height, moisture content, and total fatty matter, respectively. These findings suggest that FTIR and GC-MS can substantially be used to effectively verify the suitability of a vegetable oil for soap production. Finally, the moderately high oil yield of the kernel seed indicates its potential for large-scale soap production in Nigeria considering the country’s position as the world’s 4th largest producer of palm kernel oil.
Jacob et al. (Thu,) studied this question.