PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF EGYPTIAN-GROWN PALM OIL FOR ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN EGYPT
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21894/jopr.2026.0042
Received: 29 October 2025 Accepted: 29 July 2026 Published Online: 16 October 2026
Palm oil is a globally substantial vegetable oil, traditionally produced in Southeast Asia. However, expanding cultivation of oil palm in new regions provides prospects for diversification, sustainability, and regional economic development. Therefore, this pioneering study aimed to present physicochemical and quality assessment of palm oil produced from the Egyptian-grown palm trees. This is the first reported extraction of crude palm oil (CPO) and crude palm kernel oil (CPKO), utilising fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) from six-yearold Elaeis guineensis (Nigerian tenera hybrid) palm trees. Results revealed high oil yields (30.64 ± 0.74% mesocarp; 25.23 ± 0.33% whole fruit), with both oils showing excellent quality parameters manifested in low acidity (CPO: 1.42 ± 0.01; CPKO: 0.14 ± 0.01), peroxide values (PV) within standards, and favorable fatty acid profiles, dominated by oleic acid (39.94% ± 0.04) in CPO and lauric acid (44.83% ± 0.24) in CPKO. Storage stability assessments indicated shelf lives exceeding 16 months for CPO and 40 months for CPKO, reflecting robust oxidative stability. These findings confirm the potential of Egyptian-grown oil palms as a sustainable, high-quality source of palm oil, supporting regional diversification and industrial applications aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
KEYWORDS:1 Horticulture Research Institute,
Agricultural Research Center,
Giza, 12619, Egypt.
2 Oils and Fats Research Department,
Food Technology Research Institute,
Agricultural Research Center,
Giza, 12619, Egypt.
* Corresponding author e-mail: raniaalmoselhy@