Composition of the oil in palm kernel from Elaeis guineensis

The composition of oil from the outer, middle, and inner section of palm kernel had been evaluated by gas‐liquid chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. The composition was not homogenous throughout the kernel and was found to be more unsaturated in the outer kernel. The inner core of the kernel is less unsaturated, having a higher lauric content. The variation in the iodine value from the outer to inner section of the kernel suggested that composition of palm kernel oil was affected by the kernel size. This was found to be true, as small kernels tend to have oil with higher iodine value than do larger kernels.