Tamanu and coconut oil blends for soap making from extraction of Tamanu kernel with coconut milk

Abstract

This is a study on the extraction of oil from raw tamanu (Calophyllum inophyllum L.) kernel with milk from fresh coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) to obtain a blend (TCO) of these. The weight ratios of raw tamanu kernel (RTK) and grated coconut meat (GCM) were varied and fatty acid compositions were assessed. The RTK/GCM ratios were 0.15, 0.25 or 0.35 in 1.0 kg batches of RTK and GCM heated to 70 °C in a water bath. The yield of mixed oil was 14.7, 16.1 and 18.0 for the RTK/GCM ratios of 0.15, 0.25 and 0.35, whereas the yields of pure tamanu oil (TO) and pure coconut oil (CO) were 31.6 and 18.3, respectively. The ratios of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) to saturated fatty acids (SFA) were 30:70, 40:60 and 51:49 for the respective RTK/GCM ratios 0.15, 0.25 and 0.35. Saponification number, iodine value, and acid value were determined for the extracts. The results indicate the RTK to GCM ratio 0.25 as advantageous, giving an appropriate UFA:SFA ratio of 40:60. Soaps made from CO were assessed and a target TCO was investigated. The soap properties tested satisfied the Thai Community Product Standard of soap (TCPS 94-2546) and the Thai Industrial Standard TIS 29-2545. The TCO soap had better properties than the CO soap as regards pH, hardness, moisture content, and total fatty matter.

Keywords

• tamanu oil
• coconut oil
• co-extraction
• soap
• fatty acid