Pilu oil facts for kids
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Pilu oil comes from the seeds of the Pilu tree (Salvadora persica). This tree is also known as the "toothbrush tree" because its twigs have been traditionally used for cleaning teeth. People use Pilu oil to make things like soaps and detergents. It's also used in a special way of coloring fabric called resist dyeing.
Contents
What is Pilu Oil Like?
Pilu oil is found inside the seeds of the Pilu tree. About 32-34% of the seed's weight is oil. The seed has a hard outer shell. Inside, there's a part called the kernel, which makes up about 60% of the dried seed. This kernel holds even more oil, around 40-43%.
Some types of Pilu trees, known as the 'Sweet Variety', can give even more oil, up to 35-44%. This oil often has a strong smell. This smell comes from a natural chemical called Benzyl isothiocyanate.
There's also a greenish-yellow fat from the Pilu tree called Khakan fat. When this fat is cleaned, it loses its strong smell and becomes a pleasant, snow-white substance. Pilu oil has a lot of special fats called lauric and myristic acids. It melts at a high temperature. The strong smell of the oil goes away once it's cleaned.
Pilu oil is very useful for making soaps and detergents. It's a good alternative to other oils used in these products.
Physical Details of Pilu Oil
Here are some facts about Pilu oil:
| property | range |
| Refractive index at 40 °C | 1.4465 |
| Saponification value | 251.2 |
| Iodine value | 15.6 |
| Polenske value | 10.9 |
| Reichert-Meissl value | 5.9 |
| Solidifying point | 31.1 °C |
| Specific gravity (35.5 °C/15.5 °C) | 0.9246 |
Fatty Acids in Pilu Oil
Pilu oil is made up of different types of fatty acids:
| fatty acid | percentage |
| Capric acid(C10:0) | 1.0-1.5 |
| Lauric acid(C12:0) | 19.6-47.2 |
| Myristic acid(C14:0) | 28.4-54.5 |
| Palmitic acid(C16:) | 18.9-29.5 |
| Oleic acid(C18:1) | 5.5-12.0 |
| linoleic acid(C18:2) | 0.0-1.2 |
How Pilu Oil is Used
The fat from Pilu seeds is often used to make soap. It can make up to 20% of the soap's ingredients. It's a good replacement for coconut oil in soap making.
Pilu oil is also used in the dyeing industry. It acts as a "resist," which means it helps create patterns by preventing dye from coloring certain parts of the fabric. In some traditional medicine practices, Pilu oil has been used for conditions like rheumatism.
In India, Pilu fat is used by smaller, local soap-making businesses. These are often part of the "unorganised" or cottage industry. Organizations like the Khadi and Village Industries Commission support the use of non-edible oils, including Pilu oil, for making soap. The oil has a strong, bitter taste. In some traditional remedies, the seed oil might be applied to the skin for certain conditions.
