What Is Calcium Salt of Palm Fatty Acid? Properties, Production, and Uses
- Calcium salt of palm fatty acid is a calcium soap produced by saponification of palm fatty acids with calcium, known as “by-pass oil” in livestock feed.[1]
- The product is a hard granular solid that is easy to handle and makes fatty acids semi-inert in the rumen.[2]
- It is obtained from Palm Fatty Acid Distillate (PFAD) with calcium oxide (CaO), utilizing a co-product of palm oil refining.[2]
- It is used as a ruminant fat supplement, mineral oil gelling agent, plastic mold release agent, and PVC stabilizer.[1]
- Calcium fatty acid salts also serve as anticaking agents, lubricants, and anti-stick agents in food and pharmaceuticals.[3]
Calcium salt of palm fatty acid is a metallic soap from palm fatty acids and calcium. It is important in ruminant nutrition because it protects fat from rumen fermentation while supplying additional calcium.
Table of contents
What Is Calcium Salt of Palm Fatty Acid?
Calcium salt of palm fatty acid is a calcium soap produced by saponification of palm fatty acids with calcium ions. It is also known as calcium palm fatty acid distillate (CaPFAD) or by-pass oil.[1]
The product is a hard granular solid that is easy to handle and renders fatty acids semi-inert in the rumen. This property makes it valuable as a fat supplement for ruminant animals.[2]
Unlike pure calcium stearate, which consists mostly of stearic acid, calcium salt of palm fatty acid contains a mixture of palm fatty acids, mainly palmitic acid, with other related fatty acids.[1][3]
Production
Calcium salt of palm fatty acid is produced from Palm Fatty Acid Distillate (PFAD), a co-product of palm oil refining, with calcium oxide (CaO). This reaction yields a calcium soap rich in fat and calcium.[2]
CaO quality affects conversion extent. CaO with lower active calcium concentration yields product with a higher acid value, indicating lower reaction conversion.[4]
The product is then washed with hexane and dried by vacuum or conventional methods to lower acid value and remove free calcium and fatty acids that did not react completely.[4]
Applications
In the feed industry, calcium salt of palm fatty acid is used as a rumen-protected fat supplement (bypass fat). Fatty acids are released from calcium in the abomasum and then absorbed to supply energy for the animal.[2]
Adding pure vegetable fat to ruminant rations can inhibit rumen carbohydrate digestion, so using fat in calcium soap form is more advantageous. The product also increases calcium intake.[2]
Outside food applications, calcium stearate is used as a mineral oil gelling agent, plastic mold release in injection and extrusion, and in the polyolefin industry. Calcium fatty acid salts also act as PVC stabilizers, lubricants, and versatile anticaking agents.[1][3][5]
Standards and Regulation
In the United States, feed-grade calcium stearate and sodium stearate are regulated under 21 CFR 573.280. Related fatty acids other than stearic acid, such as palmitic, lauric, and myristic acids, are permitted up to a combined total not exceeding 35% of the mixture, and unsaponifiable matter must not exceed 2%.[3]
| Parameter | Limit |
|---|---|
| Dominant fatty acid | Stearic acid |
| Related fatty acids (total) | Max. 35% of mixture |
| Unsaponifiable matter | Max. 2% |
| Chick-edema factor | Free |
| Heat exposure | Above 180 °F for 1 hour or more |
| Function | Anticaking in livestock feed |
Summary
Calcium salt of palm fatty acid is a calcium soap of palm fatty acids produced from PFAD and CaO. The hard granular product is used as a ruminant fat supplement, mineral oil gelling agent, plastic mold release, and PVC stabilizer.
References
- Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB). MIS No. 62: Calcium Soaps Derived from Palm Fatty Acids. https://tot.mpob.gov.my/2020/02/18/mis-no-62-calcium-soaps-derived-from-palm-fatty-acids/
- Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB). Applications of Palm Oil in Animal Nutrition — calcium salts of palm fatty acids (CaPFAD). https://palmoilis.mpob.gov.my/publications/joprv22dec10-Trevor.pdf
- eCFR. 21 CFR 573.280 — Feed-grade calcium stearate and sodium stearate. http://ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-E/part-573/subpart-B/section-573.280
- EPA HERO. Calcium soap from palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) for fat supplements of ruminants. https://hero.epa.gov/reference/8213130/
- Ataman Chemicals. E470a Calcium Stearate — functions and applications. https://www.atamanchemicals.com/e470a-calcium-stearate_u39059/