Physical Refining process for palm oil

2. • More common in Malaysia
-Higher efficiency, less losses (R.F <1.3), less operating cost, less capital
input, less effluent to handle (Yusoff and Thiagarajan 1993).
• also known as deacidification (deodorisation) by steam distillation in which
free fatty acids and other volatile components are distilled off from the oil
using effective stripping agent which is usually steam under suitable
processing conditions. (Meirelles and Ceriani, 2005)
• Consists of two stages:
-pre-treatment: degumming and bleaching
-distillation: deodorization, deacidification

3. Physical
refining
Degumming
condition
Pre-bleaching
deodorization
Refined Bleached
Palm Fatty Acid
Deodorized Palm
Distillated (PFAD)
Oil (RBDPO)

5.  The process to remove undesired, impurities that affect the
stability of final oil product
 Achieved by means of chemical used to react and adsorb
the unwanted impurities
 Chemical used for the degumming condition process is
phosphoric acid or citric acid of certain concentration
 Bleaching earth is used during pre-bleaching process

6.  the incoming crude palm oil is first heated up to a
temperature of about 90oC - 110oC before it is treated with
phosphoric acid.
 The dosage of phosphoric acid normally used is within the
range of 0.05 – 0.1 % of oil weight with acid
concentration approximately about 80 - 85 %.
 It is meant to decompose the non-hydratable phosphatides
as well as to coagulate the phosphatides making them
insoluble and thus easily removed during pre-bleaching.

7.  Degummed oil is treated with bleaching earth and heated up to
a temperature of about 100oC before entering the vacuum
bleacher.
 The dosage of acid activated clay used is typically within the
range of 0.5 – 2.0 % by weight of oil
 The contact time with continuous agitation is about 30 minutes.
 During this stage, trace metal complexes such as iron and
copper, pigments, phosphatides and oxidation products are
removed by adsorptive effect of the bleaching earth.
 Any residual of phosphoric acid are removed during this stage
too.
 The bleached oil is then filtered on industrial filters such as
plate and frame filter press or vertical leaf pressure filter.

8.  FFA is removed during the final stage; deodorisation,
 In form of palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) including the
carotenoids pigments,volatiles impurities and oxidation
products.
 FFA is remove in the steam distillation.
 Carotene is remove in the steam distillation , called heat
bleach.

9. Filtered oil (DBPO)
Deodorizer
(deacidification & deodorisation treatment )
high temperature (240 – 260⁰C),
under vacuum (2 - 4mmHg) ,
direct steam injection by weight of oil
free fatty acid (FFA) in the form of palm
fatty acid distillate (PFAD) is removed as refining
waste( upper section of Deodorizer)

10. The carotenoids pigments, primary and secondary
oxidation products are also being removed
(may contribute to off-flavours)
The deodorised oil is cooled & filtered.
Keep in storage tanks( RBD oil )

11. Parameters Crude Palm Oil Degummed RBD Palm Oil
(CPO) Bleached Palm Oil (RBDPO)
(DBPO)
FFA 2-5% 3–5% ~ 0.05
M&I 0.15 – 3.0 % ~ 0.2 % ~ 0.02
PV 1.5 -5.0 Nil Nil
AV 2–6 2–6 ~ 2.0
β-carotene content 500-600 ppm - -
DOBI 2 – 3.5 - -
Phosphorus 10-18 ppm ~ 4 ppm ~ 3 ppm
Iron (Fe) 4-10 ppm ~ 0.15 ppm ~ 0.15 ppm
Copper (Cu) ~ 0.05 ppm ~ 0.05 ppm ~ 0.05 ppm
Colour - - Red 2.0
(5.25” Lovibond
Cell)