Palm olein: SAP value and fatty acids
Palm olein has a saponification value of 198 mg KOH/g. One gram needs 0.141 g of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for bar soap or 0.198 g of potassium hydroxide (KOH) for liquid soap to turn fully into soap, before any superfat.
Key numbers
- SAP, NaOH
- 0.141151 g per g oil
- SAP, KOH
- 0.198 g per g oil
- Saponification value
- 198 mg KOH/g
- Iodine value
- 58
- INS
- 140
- INCI name
- Elaeis Guineensis Oil
Example: 100 g of Palm olein with no superfat needs 14.1 g of 100% NaOH, or 19.8 g of 100% KOH. A 5% superfat uses 5% less.
In soap
Its main fatty acids in our cited profile are oleic (41.9%) and palmitic (39.8%). The eight fatty acids used in soap-quality scores make up 99% of the profile.
On its own it scores 45 for hardness, 1 for cleansing and 54 for conditioning, with a saturated : unsaturated split of 45 : 54.
The liquid fraction of palm oil (more oleic acid). Codex palm superolein is wider, 180–205.
Fatty-acid profile
| Fatty acid | % of fatty acids | Counts toward |
|---|---|---|
| lauric | 0.3% | hardness, cleansing, bubbly lather |
| myristic | 1% | hardness, cleansing, bubbly lather |
| palmitic | 39.8% | hardness, creamy lather |
| stearic | 4.2% | hardness, creamy lather |
| ricinoleic | 0% | conditioning, bubbly and creamy lather |
| oleic | 41.9% | conditioning |
| linoleic | 11.5% | conditioning |
| linolenic | 0.3% | conditioning |
Basis: Codex CXS 210 Table 1 range midpoints (ND = 0; "ND–x" = x/2), normalized to 100% because the raw midpoints sum to 102.3%.
Soap-quality scores (this oil alone)
| Hardness | 45 |
|---|---|
| Cleansing | 1 |
| Conditioning | 54 |
| Bubbly lather | 1 |
| Creamy lather | 44 |
| Iodine | 58 |
| INS | 140 |
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: 198 mg KOH/g (Codex CXS 210 range midpoint), from Codex Alimentarius CXS 210-1999, Standard for Named Vegetable Oils (Table 2: chemical and physical characteristics), FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission. Printed value: 194-202 mg KOH/g.
Published values we checked:
- 194-202 mg KOH/g — FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission
- 195-205 mg KOH/g — Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- 194 - 202 mg KOH/g — Deutsche Gesellschaft für Fettwissenschaft (DGF)
Fatty acids and iodine: Codex Alimentarius CXS 210-1999, Standard for Named Vegetable Oils (Table 2: chemical and physical characteristics), FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission. Also checked: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) (2.2.1 item 20 Palmolein (iodine value); FA table reproduces Codex ranges).
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 .