Red, papery peanut skins could someday find a place in hair conditioners and cosmetics. Researchers have discovered the peanut skins contain behenic acid, a fatty acid often used to give hair conditioners and moisturizers their smoothing properties. Used mainly in makeup and natural body-building products, behenic acid currently is extracted from rapeseed flour and sells for about $8 a pound, depending on its purity. Another bonus: oil from the peanut skins, valued at about 43 cents per pound. Peanut skins typically sell for less than a penny a pound, but these findings could boost their value.
National Peanut Research Center, Dawson, GA
Victor Sobolev, (912) 995-4444

Last Updated: January 28, 1997
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