Babassu oil

Babassu oil

Babassu oil or cusi oil is a clear light yellow vegetable oil extracted from the seeds of the babassu palm ("Attalea speciosa"), which grows in the Amazon region of South America. It is a non-drying oil used in food, cleaners and skin products. This oil has properties similar to coconut oil and is used in much the same context. It is increasingly being used as a substitute for coconut oil. Babassu oil is about 70% lipids, in the following proportions: [cite web
url=http://www.saratogascents.com/soap_making_oil_properties.html
title=Soap Making Oil Properties
accessdate=2006-10-09
publisher=Saratoga Scents
]

Lauric and myristic acids have melting points relatively close to human body temperature, so babassu oil can be applied to the skin as a solid that melts on contact. This heat transfer can produce a cooling sensation. It is an effective emollient.

During February 2008, a mixture of babassu oil and coconut oil was used to partially power one engine of a Boeing 747, in a biofuel trial sponsored by Virgin Atlantic Airways. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7261214.stm First biofuel flight, BBC News, 24/2/08] ]

References


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • babassu oil — noun fatty oil from kernels of babassu nuts similar to coconut oil • Syn: ↑babacu oil • Hypernyms: ↑oil • Substance Holonyms: ↑babassu nut * * * a yellow oil expressed or extracted from babassu nuts, used chiefly in the manufacture of soaps and… …   Useful english dictionary

  • babassu oil — a yellow oil expressed or extracted from babassu nuts, used chiefly in the manufacture of soaps and cosmetics and as a cooking oil. [1955 60] * * * …   Universalium

  • babassu palm — ▪ plant  (Attalea martiana, A. oleifera, or A. speciosa), tall palm tree with feathery leaves that grows wild in tropical northeastern Brazil. The kernels of its hard shelled nuts are the source of babassu oil, similar in properties and uses to… …   Universalium

  • babassu nut — noun hard shelled nut of the babassu palm • Hypernyms: ↑seed • Part Holonyms: ↑babassu, ↑babassu palm, ↑coco de macao, ↑Orbignya phalerata, ↑Orbignya spesiosa, ↑Orbignya martiana …   Useful english dictionary

  • babassu — /bah beuh sooh /, n. a palm, Orbignya barbosiana, of northeastern Brazil, bearing nuts that yield babassu oil. [1920 25; < Pg babaçú < Tupi, equiv. to ybá fruit + guasu large] * * * …   Universalium

  • babassu — abassu n. 1. a tall feather palm of northern Brazil ({Orbignya barbosiana}) with hard shelled nuts yielding a valuable oil ({) with hard shelled nuts yielding a valuable oil (}) and a kind of vegetable ivory. Syn: babassu palm, coco de macao,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • babassu — [bä΄bə so͞o′] n. [Port babaçú] any of a genus (Orbignya) of Brazilian palms whose edible nuts furnish an oil used in making soap, margarine, etc …   English World dictionary

  • babassu — noun tall feather palm of northern Brazil with hard shelled nuts yielding valuable oil and a kind of vegetable ivory • Syn: ↑babassu palm, ↑coco de macao, ↑Orbignya phalerata, ↑Orbignya spesiosa, ↑Orbignya martiana • Hypernyms: ↑feather palm …   Useful english dictionary

  • babassu palm — noun tall feather palm of northern Brazil with hard shelled nuts yielding valuable oil and a kind of vegetable ivory • Syn: ↑babassu, ↑coco de macao, ↑Orbignya phalerata, ↑Orbignya spesiosa, ↑Orbignya martiana • Hypernyms: ↑feather palm …   Useful english dictionary

  • babassu — n. tall palm tree found in Brazil that bears hard shelled nut which produces oil (used in the manufacture of margarine, cooking oil, soap and cosmetics) …   English contemporary dictionary

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