Variation in fatty acid composition of palm oils from two varieties of the oil palm (<i>Eelaeis guineensis</i>)

Abstract

Abstract A comparative study was carried out on the fatty acid content of palm oil samples from the red and yellow fruits of Dura and Tenera varieties of Elaeis guineensis in the dry (January) and wet (May) seasons. Significant differences in the fatty acid content of the oils from the two varieties were observed. The degree of total unsaturation of the oil samples varied, with oil from red fruits of Dura having the highest total unsaturated fatty acids.