RBD Palm Olein — Frequently Asked Questions

The temperature at which the first crystals appear, and therefore the lowest temperature at which the oil will stay clear in a bottle or fluid in a tank. It is the working specification for palm olein because clarity and pumpability are the practical constraints, and it substitutes for a melting point in a material that softens gradually rather than melting sharply.

The number of fractionation steps. Standard olein is the liquid fraction from one pass and clouds at around 10 degrees Celsius. Superolein has been fractionated again, removing more of the saturated fraction, so it stays clear several degrees lower and carries a higher iodine value. Each step raises the unsaturated share but reduces yield, which sets the price difference.

Because oxidative breakdown under heat is driven almost entirely by polyunsaturated chains, and palm olein carries very few. Each additional double bond is another point of attack, so an oil low in linoleic and linolenic acid resists polymerisation, foaming, darkening and off-flavour far longer than sunflower or soybean oil under the same conditions.

Yes, under segregated, mass balance and book and claim models. The required model should be specified at enquiry, since they differ substantially in traceability and cost and a book and claim credit will not satisfy a customer expecting physically segregated material.