Edible oils are big business. Especially palm oil. In the new memoir A Chemical Engineer in the Palm Oil Milling Industry by Hong Wai Onn, a fascinating array of facts and statistics about the palm oil milling industry are discussed. For instance, an acre of land for growing palm oil yields nearly eight times the volume of oil as an acre of land dedicated to olive oil, making palm oil the most efficient oil seed crop globally. Palm oil, though not commercially produced in the US, can be found in a wide range of products in a typical US grocery store, including shampoo, toothpaste, candles, baked goods, lipstick, processed foods, and even as a component of plastic produce bags that helps them to open more easily.
For Hong Wai Onn, palm oil milling is truly a passion! The account includes the ups and downs faced in this fulfilling career. For an industry that employs more than a million people and brings in tens of millions of dollars annually, this book serves as an inspiring guide for chemical engineers who desire to learn more about this dynamic industry. Hong Wai Onn has included real-life problems and the solutions that worked for him, as well as plenty of practical personal advice like getting outside and enjoying nature, especially if you find yourself otherwise far away from civilization! The information is highly-technical and thoroughly researched, serving as an authoritative and honest voice for those thinking of a career in the palm oil milling industry.
