UPSC Prelims 2021 – Question 32

by Edukemy Team February 26, 2024

Here is Question No. 32 a part of our series on UPSC Prelims 2021.

Table of Contents

The palm oil tree is native to Southeast Asia.
The palm oil is a raw material for some industries producing lipstick and perfumes.
The palm oil can be used to produce biodiesel.

Which of the statements given above are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b)

Statement 1 is incorrect. More than 80 percent of palm oil is grown in Southeast Asia, with Indonesia and Malaysia leading the world in the production of the commodity. Oil palms were introduced to Malaysia and Indonesia in the mid-20th century from Africa, and large-scale production followed. The growth has been rapid and widespread, and the natural forest and all that live in it face a dire future. Palm oil is derived from the oil palm tree – A native to West Africa (and not Southeast Asia). It grows best in tropical climates with abundant water.
Statement 2 is correct. Palm oil and its derivatives are present in at least 70% of cosmetic products, according to Croda, a global specialty ingredients supplier to the beauty and personal care industry. This goes to show that palm-derived ingredients are preferred by manufacturers for their functional benefits.
Statement 3 is correct. The Palm oil can be used to produce biodiesel. It can be used in compression ignition engines, i.e., diesel engines without any modifications. Generally, RBD palm oil is used to produce biodiesel due to the low FFA content (0.1-0.5%) and thus minimizes the impact of saponification reaction. Darnoko and Cheryan (2000) studied the transesterification of RBD palm oil with methanol catalyzed by KOH.

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