زيت عباد الشمس الحمضي — Frequently Asked Questions

Sunflower oil comes in two main types. Conventional, linoleic-type oil has a high iodine value, while high-oleic oil is much lower. Acid oil from a refinery that processes either or both can range from roughly 80 to 140 g I2/100 g, so measure every lot and state an acceptable range in the contract rather than relying on a single typical figure.

Sunflower oil contains waxes from the seed hull that crystallise at lower temperatures. If they reach the acid oil, they show up as unsaponifiable matter, haze or deposits that can block filters and settle in tanks. Pretreatment that includes cooling and fine filtration removes most of them, and a cold test in the specification helps to flag difficult lots early.

Yes, after acid esterification or glycerolysis to reduce FFA. Ester from linoleic-type material usually needs blending to meet the EN 14214 iodine value limit and antioxidant for oxidation stability. High-oleic material gives a more stable ester that sits more comfortably within the standard, which is why the oil type is worth stating in the contract.

It is not named in Annex IX. Some national authorities treat acid oils as processing residues and others as co-products, and aviation schemes may restrict them. Confirm the category and certificate scope for the specific lot with your certification body before contracting, and make sure the documents identify the originating refinery.

It is usually pumpable at ambient temperature, but in cold weather waxes and more saturated fractions can thicken or settle. Light heating before discharge, and recirculation where the tank allows it, keep the cargo uniform. That also improves the reliability of discharge samples, which matters when the contract allows price adjustments on MIU or FFA.

State whether conventional or high-oleic origin matters, your TFM, MIU, FFA, iodine value, sulphur and phosphorus limits and the test methods, the conversion route, volume, packaging, delivery point and Incoterm, and the sustainability documents you need. Mention any wax or cold-test requirement so that it can be checked against the lot analysis.