Hybrid Palm Oil Research Articles

Potential coolants for fuel cell application: Multi-objective optimization of thermophysical properties and PPF calculation of hybrid palm oil nanofluids

In this study, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) is being used to optimize density, viscosity, and thermal conductivity in CuO-polyaniline/palm oil hybrid nanofluids. Using a Central Composite Design (CCD) within RSM, researchers are systematically exploring the impact of temperature (ranging from 30 to 60 °C), volume concentration of nanoadditives (varying from 0.1 to 0.5 vol%) and CuO composition (ranging from 1 to 10 wt%) on the thermophysical properties of these nanofluids. This research is pioneering in its evaluation of the price performance factor (PPF) for these nanofluids. To ensure model reliability, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) is being applied. The findings showcase robust models, as indicated by a 45° angle line within the predicted vs. actual data graph. The models exhibit impressive R2 values: 98.66 % for density, 99.93 % for viscosity, and 99.91 % for thermal conductivity, underscoring the agreement between predicted and actual data. Optimal values for density, viscosity, and thermal conductivity are being obtained: 0.901532 g/mL, 37.1229 mPa s, and 0.356891 W/mK, respectively. These correspond to critical parameters of 53.92 °C for temperature, 0.038 vol% for volume concentration of nanoadditives and 2.90 wt% for CuO composition. Moreover, the price performance factor (PPF) assessment reveals that higher thermal conductivity doesn't necessarily equate to greater cost-effectiveness.

Thermal and Physical Properties of Crude Palm Oil with Higher Oleic Content

Interspecific hybridization of oil palms (E. guineensis × E. oleifera) was initially exploited to provide disease resistance and, consequently, increased oleic acid content. Besides the growing importance of this cultivar to the market, there is little information about this oil’s properties. In this context, this study aimed to determine a comprehensive physicochemical and thermal characterization of hybrid palm oil (HOPO) compared with the better-known African palm oil (APO). Differences in the distribution of fatty acids, carotenoids, and tocols were observed. Minor differences in density and viscosity were found between the oils, with no relevance for the materials’ processing design. Nevertheless, HOPO showed unique crystallization behavior, which potentially can affect industrial operations, such as fractionation. HOPO did not present the two thermal characteristic regions of APO, attributed to olein and stearin fractions. The HOPO demonstrated a decrease in the melting point of more than 3 °C in relation to APO, and a reduction in the crystallization point of more than 6 °C. Furthermore, besides the higher content of unsaturated fatty acids, HOPO was more stable than APO due to a higher antioxidant content. These results could be useful to establish operation conditions for processes using palm oil from hybrid oil palm.

Diversidad de especies de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) en bosque secundario y tres usos agrícolas de tierra en la costa pacífica colombiana

The study area pertains to the Chocó Biogeography, one of the most biodiverse areas in the world, where around 40,000 ha of rainforest has been cleared for oil palm plantations. We surveyed the ant species’ richness and diversity in four differently disturbed areas in Tumaco, Colombia, using pitfall traps and Winkler sacks. Study sites were two oil palm plantations of three- and seven- years’ existence, a peach palm plantation Bactris gasipaes of 20 years, and an area of secondary forest of 10 years. A total of 93 ant species or morphospecies, comprising 31 genera in 8 subfamilies were identified. The subfamily Myrmicinae had the highest number of species (57), followed by Ponerinae (10) and Formicinae (9). The hybrid palm oil plantations harbored 46 species (7 years) and 50 species (3 years), respectively, while the peach palm plantation was composed of 53 species, and the secondary forest had 62 species. Ectatomma ruidum was the most dominant species in the oil palm plots (≥ 80% of specimen), but significantly less in the peach palm and secondary forest. The most species-rich genera were Pheidole spp. (23) and Solenopsis spp. (13). No differences were observed in the ant species’ diversity between the secondary forest and peach palm, contrasting with the significant differences between the secondary forest and the two oil palm areas. A comparison with studies in natural areas suggests that the oil palm monocultures have dramatically reduced the species’ richness and that ten years of recovery does not bring back anything close to the original diversity.

Current Knowledge on Interspecific Hybrid Palm Oils as Food and Food Ingredient.

The consumers’ opinion concerning conventional palm (Elaeis guineensis) oil is negatively affected by environmental and nutritional issues. However, oils extracted from drupes of interspecific hybrids Elaeis oleifera × E. guineensis are getting more and more interest, due to their chemical and nutritional properties. Unsaturated fatty acids (oleic and linoleic) are the most abundant constituents (60%–80% of total fatty acids) of hybrid palm oil (HPO) and are mainly acylated in position sn-2 of the glycerol backbone. Carotenes and tocotrienols are the most interesting components of the unsaponifiable matter, even if their amount in crude oils varies greatly. The Codex Committee on Fats and Oils recently provided HPO the “dignity” of codified fat substance for human consumption and defined the physical and chemical parameters for genuine crude oils. However, only few researches have been conducted to date on the functional and technological properties of HPO, thus limiting its utilization in food industry. Recent studies on the nutritional effects of HPO softened the initial enthusiasm about the “tropical equivalent of olive oil”, suggesting that the overconsumption of HPO in the most-consumed processed foods should be carefully monitored.

Extraction of carotene from crude hybrid palm oil using polymeric resin

This work aimed to study the viability of extract carotenoids from hybrid palm oil by adsorption onto polymeric resin Diaion HP-20. Batch studies were evaluated considering the influence of initial oil solution, contact time, temperature and resin regeneration (accomplished by desorbing carotenoids with hexane). The resin regeneration process recovers approximately 95% of its initial capacity, indicating the possibility of its reuse. Extensive modeling of kinetic and equilibrium data was performed. Isotherms were evaluated with several models widely referred at literature. The best model selection was performed by information criteria (IC) tests, a formal procedure that accounts for both coefficient of determination and number of parameters. IC tests point Jovanovich and Hill-De Boer as the best-tested models for fresh and regenerated resins, respectively: besides the carotene mobility onto the adsorbent surface in both fresh and regenerated resin, lateral interactions between carotenes are observed only when using regenerated resin. Thermodynamics parameters indicate that adsorption is spontaneous, exothermic and energetically heterogeneous and occurs by physisorption. The data presented indicate the possibility of extracting carotenes from HPO by polymeric resins, as well as the reuse of the adsorbent, making this technology interesting for later industrial use.

Elucidating how two different types of bleaching earths widely used in vegetable oils industry remove carotenes from palm oil: Equilibrium, kinetics and thermodynamic parameters

This work compared the mechanisms of adsorption of carotenes from hybrid palm oil onto two kinds of bleaching earths widely used by industrial refiners (acid-activated and neutral). First, it was performed a deep characterization of adsorbent surfaces: acid activated adsorbent showed micropore volumes twice larger than the neutral. FTIR analysis of adsorbent after adsorption demonstrated that active site was Si–O–Si for both adsorbents. However, comparison of peak shapes suggested distinctive interactions between adsorbent/adsorbate for each adsorbent. Latterly, an extensive kinetic and equilibrium study was performed. Kinetic data were in accordance with pseudo-first and pseudo-second-order models. Adjusting to the intra-particle diffusion model evidenced more than one mechanism controlling the adsorption process. Equilibrium data demonstrated adsorption is only favorable at low carotene concentration at liquid phase for acid adsorbent (lower than 1 mg/mL). For neutral adsorbent, it was not clearly observed a favorable region with the studied conditions. The acid adsorbent could adsorb more carotenes per adsorbent weight than neutral. Finally, neutral adsorbent showed higher heterogeneity of interaction between adsorbate and adsorbent than the acid, especially at low adsorbent coverages.

Olive Oil, Palm Oil, and Hybrid Palm Oil Distinctly Modulate Liver Transcriptome and Induce NAFLD in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is highly prevalent worldwide. The most severe form is nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Among risk factors for the development of NAFLD is excessive lipid intake. Since palm (P) oil is the most consumed oil in the world, we aimed to investigate the effects of high-fat diets made with P oil, hybrid palm (HP) oil, or olive (O) oil in liver. Twenty-four male mice (C57Bl/6J) were fed a high-fat diet (41% fat) containing P, HP, or O oils for 8 weeks and compared to a control (C) group fed a chow diet. Adiposity was measured with computed tomography. Body, adipose tissue, and liver weights, as well as liver fat (Bligh–Dyer), blood lipid profile, glucose, and liver enzymes were measured. Liver histology (hematoxylin–eosin) and transcriptome (microarray-based) were performed. ANOVA tests with Newman–Keuls were used. Body weight was increased in the P group (p < 0.001) and body fat in the O group (C vs. O p ≤ 0.01, P vs. O p ≤ 0.05, HP vs. O p ≤ 0.05). All high-fat diets disturbed the blood lipid profile and glucose, with marked effects of HP on very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL), triglycerides, and alkaline phosphatase (p ≤ 0.001). HP had the highest liver fat (42.76 ± 1.58), followed by P (33.94 ± 1.13). O had a fat amount comparable to C (16.46 ± 0.34, 14.71 ± 0.70, respectively). P and HP oils induced hepatocyte ballooning. Transcriptome alterations of the O group were related to amino acid metabolism and fatty acid (FA) metabolism, the P group to calcium ion homeostasis, and HP oil to protein localization. Both P and HP oils induced NASH in mice via disturbed hepatocyte transcription. This raises concerns about the content of these oils in several industrialized foods.

Dietary supplementation with hybrid palm oil alters liver function in the common Marmoset

Hybrid palm oil, which contains higher levels of oleic acid and lower saturated fatty acids in comparison with African palm oil, has been proposed to be somehow equivalent to extra virgin olive oil. However, the biological effects of its consumption are poorly described. Here we have explored the effects of its overconsumption on lipid metabolism in a non-human primate model, the common marmoset. Dietary supplementation of marmoset with hyperlipidic diet containing hybrid palm oil for 3 months did not modify plasma lipids levels, but increased glucose levels as compared to the supplementation with African palm oil. Liver volume was unexpectedly found to be more increased in marmosets consuming hybrid palm oil than in those consuming African palm oil. Hepatic total lipid content and circulating transaminases were dramatically increased in animals consuming hybrid palm oil, as well as an increased degree of fibrosis. Analysis of liver miRNAs showed a selective modulation of certain miRNAs by hybrid palm oil, some of which were predicted to target genes involved in cell adhesion molecules and peroxisomal pathways. Our data suggest that consumption of hybrid palm oil should be monitored carefully, as its overconsumption compared to that of African palm oil could involve important alterations to hepatic metabolism.

Impact of Palm Oil versus Other Oils on Weight Changes: A Systematic Review

Objective: The present review aimed to determine the effect of palm oil versus other oils on changes in body weight or Body Mass Index (BMI). Design: A systematic review was conducted. Studies were identified by database searching (EMBASE, PUBMED, CENTRAL, SCOPUS, PROQUEST, Web of Science [ISI Web of Knowledge], Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Library (CINAHL Plus), LILAC and ClinicalTrials.gov. Searching, selecting and reporting were done according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) Statement. Setting: Palm oil vs other oils intervention study on weight or BMI changes. Subjects: Individuals participating in palm oil vs other oil intervention study. Results: A total of 182 studies were screened for eligibility, five studies were finally included. Three studies compared the effect of palm oil vs sunflower oil on weight changes and BMI. One study examined the effect of hybrid palm oil vs extra virgin olive oil on weight changes. The last study examined the effect of palm oil vs olive oil vs lard on weight changes. Out of 292 participants in five studies, only one study (Iggman, 2014) had a low risk of bias. In this study, there was no significant difference between the group that received sunflower oil and palm oil (SMD: 0.04, 95% CI: -0.59 to 0.66). Other four studies had unclear risk of bias. Conclusions: Based on the review, there is insufficient evidence to suggest the impact of palm oil intake on weight changes or BMI.

Changes in the Fatty Acid Profile and Phospholipid Molecular Species Composition of Human Erythrocyte Membranes after Hybrid Palm and Extra Virgin Olive Oil Supplementation.

This work aims to evaluate and compare, for the first time, the effects of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and hybrid palm oil (HPO) supplementation on the fatty acid profile and phospholipid (PL) molecular species composition of human erythrocyte membranes. Results supported the effectiveness of both HPO and EVOO supplementation (3 months, 25 mL/day) in decreasing the lipophilic index of erythrocytes with no significant differences between HPO and EVOO groups at month 3. On the other hand, the novel and rapid ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method used for PL analysis reveals an increase in the levels of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine species esterified with polyunsaturated fatty acids. This work demonstrates the ability of both EVOO and HPO to increase the degree of unsaturation of erythrocyte membrane lipids with an improvement in membrane fluidity that could be associated with a lower risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

Hybrid palm oil (Elaeis oleifera × Elaeis guineensis) supplementation improves plasma antioxidant capacity in humans

Hybrid palm oil obtained from interspecific hybrid Elaeis oleifera × Elaeis guineensis palm (HPO) has been recently proved to have a favorable impact on human plasma lipids related to cardiovascular disease risk factors. In the present work, we describe for the first time, the functional effect of crude HPO supplementation on human antioxidant plasma/serum status as assessed by the total phenolic content (Folin–Ciocalteu), ORAC and TEAC assays. One hundred sixty eligible participants (&gt;50 years) were randomized and assigned to one of the two treatments: 25 mL hybrid palm oil (HPO group) or 25 mL extra virgin olive oil (EVOO group) daily for 3 months. This study showed that supplementation of 25 mL of HPO for a period of 3 months significantly increased (p &lt; 0.01) the total phenolic content (19.2%) as well as the antioxidant capacity of human plasma measured by both ORAC (92.1%) and TEAC (42.9%) methods. Furthermore, no significant differences were found between HPO and EVOO groups in a repeated measures analysis of variance for TPC (p = 0.344), TEAC (p = 0.217), and ORAC (p = 0.318) values. These results confirm that HPO can be considered a promising tropical edible oil with potential beneficial health effects.Practical applications: The understanding of the antioxidant properties of an edible oil in vivo is of primary importance when evaluating its nutritional/functional characteristics and/or its potentiality to serve as an active ingredient for functional food preparations. The results of this study confirm that HPO can be considered a promising tropical edible oil with beneficial health properties since it is able to improve the antioxidant status of plasma in humans.This 3‐month randomized trial reported examines and compares the effects of 25 mL/day supplementation of crude hybrid palm oil (Elaeis oleifera × Elaeis guineensis), thought to be a possible tropical equivalent of the Mediterranean extra‐virgin olive oil, to the ones of extra‐virgin olive oil, which is considered as a gold standard in the functional dietary oils skyline. Interestingly, at the end of the third month of study, the effects obtained by the supplementation with hybrid palm oil are similar to those provided by the extra‐virgin olive oil supplementation. In fact, hybrid palm oil consumption has been shown to significantly increase the total phenolic content (19.2%, p &lt; 0.01) as well as the antioxidant capacity of human plasma measured by both TEAC (42.9%, p &lt; 0.01) and ORAC (92.1% p &lt; 0.01) assays.

Effects of the Fruit Ripening Stage on Antioxidant Capacity, Total Phenolics, and Polyphenolic Composition of Crude Palm Oil from Interspecific Hybrid Elaeis oleifera × Elaeis guineensis.

In the present study, we assessed for the first time the changes in the antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content, and polyphenolic composition of interspecific hybrid palm oil extracted from Elaeis oleifera × Elaeis guineensis (O × G, Coari × La Mé cultivar) during the fruit ripening process 18, 20, 22, and 24 weeks after anthesis. A progressive decrease (p < 0.05) of phenolic content occurred during fruit development together with marked changes in polyphenol profiles. Significant negative correlations were established between antioxidant activity measured by TEAC (R = -0.954; p < 0.05) and ORAC (R = -0.745; p < 0.05) and the fruit ripening stage, while a positive correlation between total phenolic content was found using either the TEAC assay or the ORAC assay. The highest DPPH radical scavenging activity was also obtained with oils extracted at 18 WAA. These results highlight that O × G fruits of early ripeness represent a better source of phenolic compounds and may provide extracts with higher antioxidant activities when hybrid palm oil is aimed to be used as a functional ingredient for the development of food or food products with antioxidant properties.

Palm oil and cardiovascular disease: a randomized trial of the effects of hybrid palm oil supplementation on human plasma lipid patterns.

This study examines, for the first time, the effect of hybrid Elaeis oleifera × E. guineensis palm oil supplementation on human plasma lipids related to CVD risk factors. One hundred sixty eligible participants were randomized and assigned to one of the two treatments: 25 mL hybrid palm oil (HPO group) or 25 mL extra virgin olive oil (EVOO group) daily for 3 months. Fasting venous samples were obtained at baseline and after 1, 2 and 3 months for measurement of plasma lipids (TC, LDL-C, HDL-C and TAGs). Changes in body mass index and waist circumference were also assessed. Although there was an overall reduction in TC (7.4%, p < 0.001) and in LDL-C (15.6%, p < 0.001), no significant differences were found between the treatment groups in a repeated measures analysis of variance for TC (p = 0.0525), LDL-C (p = 0.2356), HDL-C (p = 0.8293) or TAGs (p = 0.3749). Furthermore, HPO consumption had similar effects on plasma lipids to EVOO, thus providing additional support for the concept that hybrid Elaeis oleifera × E. guineensis palm oil can be seen as a "tropical equivalent of olive oil".

Crude Palm Oil from Interspecific Hybrid Elaeis oleifera × E. guineensis: Alcoholic Constituents of Unsaponifiable Matter

AbstractInterspecific hybrid Elaeis oleifera × E. guineensis (O×G) palm is currently receiving increasing attention because of its interesting glycerides structure and composition. In this study, the alcoholic constituents of unsaponifiable matter of crude hybrid O×G palm oil were characterized for the first time and compared to data obtained analyzing crude African palm oil (E. guineensis).Total unsaponifiable matter content was 1.18 ± 0.11 g/100 g in O×G hybrid oil and 1.05 ± 0.06 g/100 g in African palm oil. O×G oil was characterized by lower contents of squalene and alcoholic constituents where the main differences concerned 4‐desmethylsterols and isoprenoid alcohols: O×G oil was characterized by higher (23.6 ± 6.1 %) contents of isoprenoid alcohols and by a different phytol/geranylgeraniol ratio. The tocol fraction constituted the class of unsaponifiable components on which the genetic exerts the greatest influence: tocol content showed no significant differences between the two oils, however, hybrid palm oil was characterized by higher percentages of γ‐tocotrienol (59.7 ± 1.1) and δ‐tocotrienol (11.7 ± 0.8) and lower percentages of tocopherols (10.6 ± 0.3), almost entirely constituted of the α isomer. These results suggest that O×G oil can also be considered an interesting alimentary source of nutraceutical components, especially for bioactive tocotrienols.

Phytonutrient concentration and unsaturation of glycerides predict optimal harvest time for Elaeis oleifera × E. guineensis palm oil hybrids

Hybrid palm oil has been recently proved to have interesting chemical and nutritional characteristics. However, there is rather limited information on the chemical composition changes of hybrid palm oil during fruit ripening. In this paper we present for the first time a detailed chemical characterization of O × G interspecific hybrid palm oil extracted from fruits of Coari × La Mé cultivar, planted in the region of Llanos Orientales (Colombia) during the last 6 wk of fruit ripening (18–24 wk after anthesis [WAA]). It was found that during fruit development a progressive and significant decrease of the saturated fatty acids (SFAs) palmitic and stearic, and a corresponding increase in the relative percentage of the unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) oleic and linoleic occurred: the SFAs/UFAs ratio decreased from 0.84 to 0.58. Statistically significant changes in triacylglycerol species between 18 and 24 WAA were also observed. On the contrary, total unsaponifiable matter content ranged from 0.87 to 1.05 g/100 g oil sample, without any significant difference due to harvest time. However, a trend of increase in total tocol content was also observed, with a final value at 24 WAA of more than 26 ppm.Practical applications: The understanding of palm fruit development may be useful for setting both optimal harvest time and breeding purposes: the results of this study reveal that a better concentration of phytonutrients (tocols), together with a higher degree of unsaturation of glycerides, can be obtained at 24 WAA, which therefore represents the optimal harvest time for both quantitative (i.e., extraction rate, industrial applications, etc.) and qualitative (i.e., nutritional properties) characteristics of the O × G interspecific hybrid oil.Hybrid palm oil has interesting chemical and nutritional characteristics. During fruit development, a progressive and significant decrease of the saturated fatty acids palmitic and stearic acid, and a corresponding increase in the relative percentage of unsaturated fatty acids, oleic and linoleic acid occurred, along with changes in triacylglycerol species. Furthermore, a trend of increase in phytonutrient (tocol) levels was also observed.

Crude palm oil from interspecific hybrid Elaeis oleifera × Elaeis guineensis: Fatty acid regiodistribution and molecular species of glycerides

The composition and structure of triacylglycerols (TAGs) and partial glycerides of crude palm oil obtained from interspecific hybrid Elaeis oleifera×Elaeis guineensis, grown in Colombia, were fully characterised and compared to data obtained by analysing crude African palm oil. Hybridisation appears to substantially modify the biosynthesis of fatty acids (FAs) rather than their assembly in TAGs. In fact, total FAs analysis showed significant differences between these two types of oil, with hybrid palm oil having a higher percentage of oleic acid (54.6±1.0 vs 41.4±0.3), together with a lower saturated fatty acid content (33.5±0.5 vs 47.3±0.1), while the percentage of essential fatty acid, linoleic acid, does not undergo significant changes. Furthermore, 34 TAG types were identified, with no qualitative differences between African and E. guineensis×E. oleifera hybrid palm oil samples. Short and medium chain FAs (8:0, 10:0, 12:0, 14:0) were utilised, together, to build a restricted number of TAG molecular species. Oil samples from the E. guineensis×E. oleifera hybrid showed higher contents of monosaturated TAGs (47.5–51.0% vs 36.7–37.1%) and triunsaturated TAGs (15.5–15.6% vs 5.2–5.4%). The sn-2 position of TAGs in hybrid palm oil was shown to be predominantly esterified with oleic acid (64.7–66.0mol% vs 55.1–58.2mol% in African palm oil) with only 10–15% of total palmitic acid and 6–20% of stearic acid acylated in the secondary position. The total amount of diacylglycerols (DAGs) was in agreement with the values of free acidity; DAG types found were in agreement with the representativeness of different TAG species.

A spectrophotometric method for determination of solid fat content of palm oil

AbstractA new spectrophotometric method has been developed for determining solid fat content (SFC) of crude palm oil based on the different solubilities of the inherent carotenes in the solid and liquid components of the oil. The sample to be analyzed is tempered according to usual procedures and then either filtered or centrifuged to liberate the liquid component (olein). The carotene contents of the palm oil and olein as determined by spectrophotometry are then fitted into an equation to obtain the SFC. The carotenes are apparently insoluble in the solid component of palm oil. The standard deviation of analysis on palm oil samples at 25 C is 0.5% which is almost comparable to that of the wide‐line NMR technique. The correlation coefficient of SFC measured by these 2 methods over a range of temperatures is 0.99. The new method can also be used to determine SFC of hybrid palm oil (Elaeis guineensis ×E. oleifera) and different palm oil‐stearin blends.