Sodium chlorate is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula NaClO3. It is a white crystalline powder that is readily soluble in water. It is hygroscopic. It decomposes above 300 C to release oxygen and leaves sodium chloride. Several hundred million tons are produced annually, mainly for applications in bleaching pulp to produce high brightness paper. The main commercial use for sodium chlorate is for making chlorine dioxide (ClO2). The largest application of ClO2, which accounts for about 95% of the use of chlorate, is in bleaching of pulp. All other, less important chlorates are derived from sodium chlorate, usually by salt metathesis with the corresponding chloride. All perchlorate compounds are produced industrially by the oxidation of solutions of sodium chlorate by electrolysis.
Palm oil is a vegetable oil obtained from the mesocarp (reddish pulp) of the oil palm fruit. The oil is utilised in food production, cosmetics, and as a biofuel. Oil palms have been used by humans for over 5,000 years. Palm oil's highly saturated nature causes it to solidify at room temperature in temperate climates, making it a suitable substitute for butter or hydrogenated vegetable oils in applications where solid fat is desired, such as pastry dough and baked products. The increased usage of palm oil in the food industry is due to health concerns about trans fats in hydrogenated vegetable oils.Around 70% of personal care items, such as soap, shampoo, cosmetics, and lotion, include palm oil-derived components.