Vision 2020 calls for more efforts towards an industrialised economy in Malaysia. One agreed strategy is to explore more down-stream possibilities for our many natural resources through research and development (R&D). Recent research at the Palm Oil Research Institute of Malaysia (PORIM) has indicated exciting possibilities for a new product from palm oil (PO). This product is epoxidised palm oil (ePO). As a result of collaborative R&D with local organisations and industries, ePO has been shown to have a number of commercially realistic end uses, e.g. as additives in the plastic industry; as an agent in polyacrylate surface finishing and as an effective starting material to make polyol.

Main Researcher: Hazimah Abu Hassan