Palm kernel flakes (hydrogenated palm kernel oil): SAP value and fatty acids
Palm kernel flakes (hydrogenated palm kernel oil) has a saponification value of 250 mg KOH/g. One gram needs 0.178 g of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for bar soap or 0.250 g of potassium hydroxide (KOH) for liquid soap to turn fully into soap, before any superfat.
Key numbers
- SAP, NaOH
- 0.178221 g per g oil
- SAP, KOH
- 0.25 g per g oil
- Saponification value
- 250 mg KOH/g
- INCI name
- Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil
Example: 100 g of Palm kernel flakes (hydrogenated palm kernel oil) with no superfat needs 17.8 g of 100% NaOH, or 25.0 g of 100% KOH. A 5% superfat uses 5% less.
In soap
Its main fatty acids in our cited profile are lauric (48.3%) and stearic (15.5%). The eight fatty acids used in soap-quality scores make up 91.7% of the profile.
On its own it scores 86 for hardness, 63 for cleansing and 5 for conditioning, with a saturated : unsaturated split of 86 : 5.
Fully hardened palm kernel oil. Hydrogenation barely changes SAP (it adds very little mass), so it sits with palm kernel oil (Codex 230–254). Only one supplier figure was readable. Only one published source was found for this value; confirm it against your supplier's certificate of analysis.
Fatty-acid profile
| Fatty acid | % of fatty acids | Counts toward |
|---|---|---|
| lauric | 48.3% | hardness, cleansing, bubbly lather |
| myristic | 14.8% | hardness, cleansing, bubbly lather |
| palmitic | 7.8% | hardness, creamy lather |
| stearic | 15.5% | hardness, creamy lather |
| ricinoleic | 0% | conditioning, bubbly and creamy lather |
| oleic | 5.3% | conditioning |
| linoleic | 0% | conditioning |
| linolenic | 0% | conditioning |
Basis: USDA FDC SR Legacy 172366 "Oil, industrial, palm kernel (hydrogenated), used for whipped toppings, non-dairy", individual fatty acids divided by total fatty acids.
Soap-quality scores (this oil alone)
| Hardness | 86 |
|---|---|
| Cleansing | 63 |
| Conditioning | 5 |
| Bubbly lather | 63 |
| Creamy lather | 23 |
Each score adds up certain fatty acids, the way Soap Ledger scores a whole recipe. They are for comparing recipes; they don't predict how a bar will feel, and they say nothing about safety or skin.
Sources
SAP value: 250 mg KOH/g (Single source only), from Palm Kernel Flakes (product page: hydrogenated palm kernel oil, citric acid, lecithin), Soaper's Choice (Columbus Vegetable Oils, supplier). Printed value: SAP Value KOH NaOH: 250 (178) mg KOH/g.
Published values we checked:
Fatty acids: USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 172366 "Oil, industrial, palm kernel (hydrogenated), used for whipped toppings, non-dairy", U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. Also checked: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (Individual fatty acids (g/100 g food); read from the SR Legacy April 2018 CSV release); Soaper's Choice (Columbus Vegetable Oils, supplier).
NaOH and KOH values are converted from mg KOH/g with the molar masses 39.997 and 56.106 and rounded to 6 decimals, exactly as in the Soap Ledger app. Real oils vary by origin, grade and lot: check your supplier's certificate of analysis. Verify every weight before you make this, and follow lye safety. Not a safety or compliance certification.
Last updated .