Separation of squalene rich fraction from palm oil fatty acid distillate (PFAD): A review

Abstract

Palm Oil Fatty Acid Distillate (PFAD) is a by-product of the palm oil industry which has many potential bioactive compounds such as vitamin E, phytosterols and squalene. To obtain multi-component bioactive compounds, saponification and extraction processes are required. The purpose of this study was to identify a review of the comparison of several methods that are more optimal in separating the Squalene-Rich Fraction from Palm Oil Fatty Acid Distillate (PFAD). The study uses the systematic literature review method, where the review will study and compare several journal descriptions regarding comparisons in managing the optimal separation of the squalene fraction from the three types of methods offered, namely the method using solvents, the method using high pressure supercritical fluid extraction and the isolation of squalene method using Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains. This review presents a descriptive analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the three methods. The study compared three methods for separating the squalene-rich fraction. The review suggests that the safest method to use is separation with low temperature solvents or the so-called low temperature solvent crystallization. Reviews show that this method will not destroy bioactive compounds which are easily oxidized, be easy to apply, require low production cost and capable of producing high purity squalene-rich fractions.