Uses for coconut oil

<h3 >Industry</h3>

<div class="rellink boilerplate seealso" >See also: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetable_oil_used_as_fuel" title="Vegetable oil used as fuel" class="mw-redirect" >Vegetable oil used as fuel</a></div>

Coconut oil has been tested for use as a feedstock for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiesel" title="Biodiesel" >biodiesel</a> to be used as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_engine" title="Diesel engine" >diesel engine</a> fuel. In this manner, it can be applied to power <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generators" title="Generators" class="mw-redirect" >generators</a> and transport using diesel engines. Since straight coconut oil has a high gelling temperature (22–25 °C), a high viscosity, and a minimum combustion chamber temperature of 500 °C (932 °F) (to avoid polymerization of the fuel), coconut oil is typically transesterified to make biodiesel. Use of B100 (100% biodiesel) is possible only in temperate climates, as the gel point is approximately 10 °C (50 °F). The oil must meet the Weihenstephan standar

d<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_oil#cite_note-38" >[39]</a>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:NOTRS" title="Wikipedia:NOTRS" class="mw-redirect" >better source needed</a>] for pure vegetable oil used as a fuel, otherwise moderate to severe damage from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbonisation" title="Carbonisation" class="mw-redirect" >carbonisation</a> and clogging will occur in an unmodified engine.

The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines" title="Philippines" >Philippines</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanuatu" title="Vanuatu" >Vanuatu</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samoa" title="Samoa" >Samoa</a>, and several other tropical island countries are using coconut oil as an alternative fuel source to run automobiles, trucks, and buses, and to power generators.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_oil#cite_note-39" >[40]</a>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:NOTRS" title="Wikipedia:NOTRS" class="mw-redirect" >better source needed</a>] Coconut oil is currently used as a fuel for transport in the Philippines.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_oil#cite_note-40" >[41]</a> Further research into the oil's potential as a fuel for electricity generation is being carried out in the islands of the Pacific, though to date it appears it is not useful as a fuel source due to the cost of labour and supply constraints.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_oil#cite_note-41" >[42]</a>

Coconut oil has been tested for use as an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_oil" title="Motor oil" >engine lubricant</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_oil#cite_note-42" >[43]</a> and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformer_oil" title="Transformer oil" >transformer oil</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_oil#cite_note-43" >[44]</a>

Acids derived from coconut oil can be used as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbicide" title="Herbicide" >herbicides</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_oil#cite_note-44" >[45]</a>

Coconut oil (and derivatives, such as coconut fatty acid) are used as raw materials in the manufacture of surfactants such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocamidopropyl_betaine" title="Cocamidopropyl betaine" >cocamidopropyl betaine</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocamide_MEA" title="Cocamide MEA" >cocamide MEA</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocamide_DEA" title="Cocamide DEA" >cocamide DEA</a>.