Thin layer chromatography of an extract of palm oil mill final effluent discharge revealed that the major components present are quite similar to those of crude palm oil. A band which had been previously reported and which contributed about 6% (w/w) of the extract was found to consist of long-chain wax esters ranging from molecular weight m/z 396 to m/z 508. Hexadecyl laurate and hexadecyl myristate were found to be the two major constituents; together they accounted for about 45% of the total was esters detected.

Keywords: hexadecyl laurate, hexadecyl myristate, palm oil mill final effluent discharge, Wax esters