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Coconut oil

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Traditional way of making coconut oil using a bullock-powered mill in Seychelles

Coconut oil, also known as coconut butter, is a tropical oil with many applications. It is extracted from copra (derived from Malayalam word "kopra" which means dried coconut). Coconut oil constitutes seven percent of the total export income of the Philippines, the world's largest exporter of the product.

Coconut oil was developed as a commercial product by merchants in the South Seas and South Asia in the 1860s.

Physical properties

Coconut oil is a fat consisting of about 90% saturated fat. The oil contains predominantly medium chain triglycerides,[1] with roughly 92% saturated fatty acids, 6% monounsaturated fatty acids, and 2% polyunsaturated fatty acids. Of the saturated fatty acids, coconut oil is primarily 44.6% lauric acid, 16.8% myristic acid a 8.2% palmitic acid and 8% caprylic acid, although it contains seven different saturated fatty acids in total. Its only monounsaturated fatty acid is oleic acid while its only polyunsaturated fatty acid is linoleic acid.[2]

Unrefined coconut oil melts at 24-25°C (76°F) and smokes at 170°C (350°F),[3] while refined coconut oil has a higher smoke point of 232°C (450°F).

Among the most stable of all oils, coconut oil is slow to oxidize and thus resistant to rancidity, lasting up to two years due to its high saturated fat content.[citation needed] It is best stored in solid form, below 24.5°C (76°F) in order to extend shelf life. However, unlike most oils, coconut oil will not be damaged by warmer temperatures.[citation needed]

Dietary consumption issues

Cautionary recommendations

  • The American Heart Association recommends that individuals reduce their consumption of saturated fats, including those found in coconut oil, to less than 7% of one's caloric intake. [4] [5]
  • The World Health Organization has determined that reduced consumption of saturated fat, including that from coconut oil, would positively affect health and reduce the prevalence of heart attacks. [6]
  • Epidemiological studies have found that diets high in saturated fatty acids, including lauric, myristic, palmitic, and stearic acid, found in coconut oil, were strong predictors of coronary heart disease risk. [7] [8] [9] [10]

Supportive recommendations

  • Mary G. Enig suggests that coconut oil contains more complex ingredients including lauric acid that reduce LDL and improves HDL. Enig believes that the studies that have been conducted unfairly link coconut oil to health problems and that there are health benefits to coconut oil.[11]

Types of oil available

Virgin coconut oil

Virgin coconut oil is derived from fresh coconuts (rather than dried, as in copra). Most oils marketed as "Virgin" are produced one of three ways:

  1. Quick drying of fresh coconut meat which is then used to press out the oil.
  2. Wet-milling (coconut milk). With this method the oil is extracted from fresh coconut meat without drying first. "Coconut milk" is expressed first by pressing. The oil is then further separated from the water. Methods which can be used to separate the oil from the water include boiling, fermentation, refrigeration, enzymes and mechanical centrifuge.
  3. Wet-milling (direct micro expelling). In this process, the oil is extracted from fresh coconut meat after the adjustment of the water content, then the pressing of the coconut flesh results in the direct extraction of free-flowing oil.

Unlike olive oil, there is no world or governing body that sets a standard definition or set of guidelines to classify coconut oil as "virgin". The Philippines has established a Department of Science and Technology (DOST) governmental standard.[citation needed]

Refined oil

Coconuts sundried in Kozhikode, Kerala for making copra, which is used for making coconut oil

Refined coconut oil is referred to in the coconut industry as RBD (refined, bleached, and deodorized) coconut oil. The starting point is "copra", the dried coconut meat. Copra can be made by smoke drying, sun drying, or kiln drying. The unrefined coconut oil extracted from copra (called "crude coconut oil") is not suitable for consumption and must be refined.

Hydrogenated oil

Hydrogenated coconut oil may either be fully or partially hydrogenated. This happens mostly in tropical climates, since the natural melting point of coconut oil is about 76 degrees F, and already naturally a solid in most colder climates.

Fractionated oil

"Fractionated coconut oil" is a fraction of the whole oil, in which most of the long-chain triglycerides are removed so that only saturated fats remain. It may also referred to as "caprylic/capric triglyceride" or medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil because mostly the medium-chain triglycerides caprylic and capric acid) are left in the oil.

Because it is completely saturated, fractionated oil is even more heat stable than other forms of coconut oil and has a nearly indefinite shelf life.

Applications

Cooking

Coconut oil is commonly used in cooking, especially when frying, and it has a high smoke point which makes it good for this purpose. In communities where coconut oil is widely used in cooking, the refined oil is the one most commonly used.

Coconut oil is often used in making a curry or in popcorn machines at movie theaters.

Manufacturing

Coconut oil is used in volume quantities for making margarine, soap and cosmetics.

Hydrogenated or partially-hydrogenated coconut oil is often used in non-dairy creamers, and snack foods.

Fractionated coconut oil is also used in the manufacture of essences, massage oils and cosmetics

Cosmetics and skin treatments

Coconut oil is excellent as a skin moisturiser and softener. A study shows that extra virgin coconut oil is as effective and safe as mineral oil when used as a moisturiser, with absence of adverse reactions.[12] Although not suitable for use with condoms, coconut oil is an excellent, inexpensive lubricant for sexual intercourse[13], though it may cause an allergic reaction.

In India and Sri Lanka, coconut oil is commonly used for styling hair, and cooling or soothing the head. People of Tamil Nadu and other coastal areas such as Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa bathe in warm water after applying coconut oil all over the body and leaving it as is for an hour to keep body, skin, and hair healthy.

As a fuel

Traditional use

Coconut oil is used in oil lamps.

In diesel engines

See also: Vegetable oil used as fuel

Coconut oil has been tested for use as a feedstock for biodiesel to be used as a diesel engine fuel. In this manner it can be applied to power generation and transport using diesel engines.

Coconut oil is blended to make biodiesel but can also be used straight, without blending. However, only blends with 10% or less of coconut oil can be safely used in unmodified engines. The oil needs to meet the Weihenstephan standard[14] for pure vegetable oil used as a fuel since otherwise moderate to severe damage from coking and clogging will occur in an unmodified engine . Stationary engines that are continuously loaded (>70%) may possibly be used without engine modifications but there is divergent opinion about this.

The physical constraints of using raw coconut oil in a diesel engine are formed by:

  • higher viscosity of coconut oil (up to 10 times as high as diesel), leading to altered spray pattern of injected fuel, additional stress on injection pump
  • minimum combustion chamber temperature of 500 °C (932 °F) to avoid polymerisation of the fuel, leading to clogged injectors, sticking piston rings and lubrication oil deterioration
  • solidification point between 22-25 °C requires an additional fuel tank heater in temperate climates.

Raw coconut oil can be used as a fuel for generating electricity by remote communities that have an abundant supply of coconuts and milling capacity, provided diesel engines are adapted.

Coconut oil is currently used as a fuel for transport and electricity generation in the Philippines [citation needed] and India [citation needed] while research is being carried out in the islands of the Pacific.[15][16] In the 1990s Bougainville conflict, islanders cut off from supplies due to a blockade used it to fuel their vehicles.[17]

Philippines

On January 16, 2008, (using of Korean micro biotechnology), a company converted coconut oil into engine oil. Rey Mangio, managing director of the Chun Hae Food Processor in Matina Pangi, Davao City, Philippines unveiled the S-9 biotech lubricating motor oil for gasoline and diesel engine: "Since 2005, more than 400 vehicles, both diesel and gasoline fueled, have tested the product at a blended rate of 20 percent of crankcase capacity; Chemical analyses show that the product reduces fuel consumption up to 45 percent, it also reduces smoke emission up to 95 percent, it has more power and it has cooler engine operating temperatures." The company produces 5,000 liters of motor oil in a month.[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c208C.html
  2. ^ Nutrient analysis of coconut oil - USDA
  3. ^ Cooking For Engineers - Kitchen Notes: Smoke Points of Various Fats
  4. ^ http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=532
  5. ^ Alice H. Lichtenstein, Lawrence J. Appel, Michael Brands, Mercedes Carnethon et al Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations Revision 2006: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association Nutrition Committee Circulation 2006;114;82-96
  6. ^ Joint WHO/FAO Expert Consultation on Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases Diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases: report of a joint WHO/FAO expert consultation ISBN 92-4-120916-X ISSN 0512-3054
  7. ^ Kromhout D, Menotti A, Bloemberg B, Aravanis C, Blackburn H, Buzina R, Dontas AS, Fidanza F, Giampaoli S, Jansen A, et al Dietary saturated and trans fatty acids and cholesterol and 25-year mortality from coronary heart disease: the Seven Countries Study Prev Med 1995 May;24(3):308-15
  8. ^ Frank B Hu, Meir J Stampfer, JoAnn E Manson, Alberto Ascherio, Graham A Colditz, Frank E Speizer, Charles H Hennekens, and Walter C Willett Dietary saturated fats and their food sources in relation to the risk of coronary heart disease in women Am J Clin Nutr 1999;70:1001–8
  9. ^ Ancel Keys Coronary heart disease in seven countries Nutrition Volume 13, Issue 3, March 1997, Page 249
  10. ^ Beegom R, Singh RB Association of higher saturated fat intake with higher risk of hypertension in an urban population of Trivandrum in south India Int J Cardiol 1997 Jan 3;58(1):63-70
  11. ^ Enig, Mary (1996-0426). "Health and Nutritional Benefits from Coconut Oil: An Important Functional Food for the 21st Century". Retrieved 2007-12-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ Agero AL, Verallo-Rowell VM A randomized double-blind controlled trial comparing extra virgin coconut oil with mineral oil as a moisturizer for mild to moderate xerosis Dermatitis 2004 Sep;15(3):109-16
  13. ^ Condom Burn: Signs and Alternatives, Associated Content, accessed 4 January 2007
  14. ^ Weihenstephan vegetable oil fuel standard (German Rapeseed Fuel Standard)
  15. ^ Coconut Oil for Power Generation by EPC in Samoa - Jan Cloin
  16. ^ "Coconut oil powers island's cars". BBC. May 8, 2007. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  17. ^ The coconut revolution - a documentary film.
  18. ^ GMA NEWS.TV, Davao firm converts coco oil to engine oil - report
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