With reference to ‘palm oil’, consider the following statements:

1. The palm oil tree is native to Southeast Asia.

2. Palm oil is a raw material for some industries producing lipstick and perfumes.

3. Palm oil can be used to produce biodiesel.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

UPSC Civil Services Exam (Prelims) General Studies Official Paper-I (Held On: 10 Oct 2021)

Answer 1

The correct answer is 2 and 3 only.

Key Points

Palm oil is derived from the oil palm tree, which is native to West Africa and grows best in tropical climates with abundant water.
- It was imported into SE Asia in the mid 19th century.
- Oil palm flourishes in the humid tropics and produces a high yield when grown 10 degrees north and south of the equator. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
Palm oil and its derivatives are widely used in cosmetic products like lipsticks, creams, and perfumes because they act as emollients (moisturizers) and improve product texture and shelf life.
- Palm oil’s stability and neutral scent make it suitable for these applications. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Palm oil can be processed into biodiesel through a chemical process called transesterification, where the fats are converted into methyl esters (biodiesel).
- Indonesia and Malaysia have implemented palm oil-based biodiesel programs to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Hence, statement 3 is correct.