Abstract
Physicochemical analyses were carried out on palm kernel oil (Adin) and the following results were obtained: Saponification value; 280.5±56.1 mgKOH/g, acid value; 2.7±0.3 mg KOH/g, Free Fatty Acid (FFA); 1.35±0.15 KOH/g, ester value; 277.8±56.4 mgKOH/g, peroxide value; 14.3±0.8 mEq/kg; iodine value; 15.86±4.02 mgKOH/g, Specific Gravity (S.G) value; 0.904, refractive index; 1.412 and inorganic materials; 1.05%. Its odour and colour were heavy burnt smell and burnt brown, respectively. These values were compared with those obtained for groundnut and coconut oils. It was found that the physico-chemical properties of palm kernel oil are comparable to those of groundnut and coconut oils except for the peroxide value (i.e., 14.3±0.8 mEq) which was not detectable in groundnut and coconut oils. Also the odour of both groundnut and coconut oils were pleasant while that of the palm kernel oil was not as pleasant (i.e., heavy burnt smell).
Highlights
Lipids are heterogeneous group of substances which occur ubiquitously in biological materials
Lipids can be oils or fat depending on the degree of unsaturation of the fatty acid components
Those with a high percentage of saturated fatty acids are solid at room temperature while those with a high percentage of unsaturation are oils
Summary
Lipids are heterogeneous group of substances which occur ubiquitously in biological materials. Fats and oil belong to these groups of compounds known as lipids which are found in living tissues e.g., tissues of plants and animals (Free Mantle, 1993). They may be categorized as a group by their extractability in nonpolar solvent such as chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, benzene ether, carbon disulphide and petroleum ether. The term lipid is a general one that is used to describe a large group of naturally fat-like substance. They are organic compounds which all contain carbon, hydrogen and small amount of oxygen (Fox and Cameron, 1992). Lipids serve as food, which is being used when calories demand exceeds calories supply, they are used up when there is deficiency in other sources of energy
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