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 GREEN ENERGY
PALM OIL
BIODIESEL
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Palm Oil - Advantages
Palm oil, as feedstock for biodiesel production, holds many advantages:
A vastly greater yield per area as compared with other plant sources:
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Source: Pahl, G. (2005). Biodiesel: Growing a new energy economy.
Chelsea Green Publishing Company, White River Junction, Vermont,
USA. 281 p.
Soy oil produces approximately 475 liters of biodiesel per hectare (50 gallons per acre) on average, while palm oil produces more than 5,675 liters per hectare (600 gallons per acre) – almost 12 times as much!
Palm oil has the lowest per-unit production costs of all vegetable oils (next in line is soy, with a production cost that is 20% higher).
The palm oil extraction process is a relatively simple one.
The relative oxidation rate of palm oil at 37°C / 98.6°F is 40-65 OSI (h) at 97.8°C, with a relative stability of 20, as compared with 13-15 OSI for soybean oil, with a relative stability of 6; and 16-20 OSI with a relative stability of 6 for rapeseed oil. As extensive oxidation can cause fuel quality to degrade during storage, the higher OSI of palm oil renders it more stable with respect to oxidation than other oils, and therefore comprises an important advantage.
Blends of composed of 4.2 parts SBO (Soy Bean Oil) with 1 part palm oil behave as RSO (Refined Soy Oil), resulting in a significant price benefit.
Palm oil is rich in beta-carotenes and is considered as the richest natural source of carotenoids, which are known to be an effective antioxidant.
Palm oil has a high melting point and a low content of trans fatty acids, two attributes that are particularly attractive to the food industry.
Studies have shown that the effects of palm oil and palm olein on blood cholesterol levels are similar to those of olive oils.
A diet that includes palm oil raises the level of 'good' HDL cholesterol, yet does not raise the level of LDL or total cholesterol. Moreover, it may even lead to lower plasma levels of LDL (which is most commonly linked to heart disease).
Studies suggest that the tocotrienols found in palm oil may be able to reverse blockage of the carotid artery as well as platelet aggregation, and thus reduce the risk of strokes, arteriosclerosis and other phenomena associated with heart disease.
Studies suggest that a palm-oil enriched diet produces a reduced tendency for blood clotting.
Several negative health attributes that have been associated with palm oil in the past have lately been proven to be wrong.
Palm oil maintains a high level of substitutability with other soft oils.
Palm oil has the highest market penetration level of all vegetable oils.
Palm oil has been the most competitively priced vegetable oil in the global market for the past 20 years – and continues to be so today.
The disadvantages of palm oil are:
Higher cloud point (the temperature at which dissolved solids in the oil begin to form and separate from the oil); the oil must therefore be kept at a temperature that is above the cloud point in order to prevent the clogging of filers.
Higher pour point (the lowest temperature at which oil will flow).
In blends of RSO (Refined Soy Oil) and palm oil, palm oil addition is strongly limited by CFPP (Cold Filter Plugging Point) and viscosity. Furthermore, palm oil addition yields only limited price flexibility.
New technologies that change the chemical / molecular structure of the oil effectively address the above issues, since the treated material is identical to diesel. Thus, 100% of this material can be used as a replacement to diesel, in all temperatures.
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