Separation of squalene rich fraction from palm oil fatty acid distillate (PFAD)
R P Nurfatimah, Ahmadi Kgs, I Hapsari, K Kholila, T Estiasih

Department of Agricultural Product Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia.

Abstract

Palm Oil Fatty Acid Distillate (PFAD) is a by-product of the palm oil industry which has many potential bioactive compounds such as vitamin E, phytosterols and squalene. Squalene is identified as an unsaturated polyhydrocarbon compound that can help reduce cholesterol in the human body. Besides squalene is also widely used for raw materials of drugs and cosmetics in the health field. The squalene from natural materials can be repaired using methods involving high temperature and crystallization of low temperature solvents. Methods that involve high temperatures will damage the contents of vitamin E and squalene, so that separation is carried out in the unsaponifiable fraction (USF) of PFAD using low temperature. Crystallization is carried out based on the different melting point of the compounds present in the non-soapy fraction of the squalene-containing material, so that the squalene content obtained will be higher than the use of high temperature.

Keywords: Antioxidant, Bioactive compounds, Palm oil fatty acid distillates, Recrystallization, Squalene

Topic: AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT TECHNOLOGY