Palm Fatty Acid Distillate (PFAD)

About This Product

Palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) is the volatile fraction recovered when crude palm oil is physically refined. In physical refining, free fatty acids are stripped from the degummed and bleached oil with steam under high vacuum at high temperature, and the vapours are condensed as PFAD. It is therefore a concentrate of the oil's free fatty acids, mostly palmitic and oleic acid, together with some entrained glycerides and minor components such as tocopherols, sterols and squalene. FFA typically falls in the 70–90 % range, expressed as palmitic acid, and the balance is largely mono-, di- and triglycerides. Because the oil has already been degummed and bleached before distillation, MIU is usually low, often 1–2 % or less, and phosphorus and metals are typically lower than in acid oils or used cooking oil. Iodine value is around 45–60 g I2/100 g. Buyers normally specify FFA, saponifiable matter, MIU, iodine value, sulphur and phosphorus, and some add unsaponifiable matter or tocopherol content where those components are recovered. For biodiesel, the very high FFA means PFAD is esterified directly with methanol over an acid or heterogeneous catalyst, or first converted by glycerolysis, rather than transesterified. The resulting ester is highly saturated, so it has good oxidation stability but a high cold filter plugging point, which limits blending in cold climates. For HVO and HEFA-SPK (SAF), PFAD's C16/C18 chains convert efficiently into diesel- and jet-range paraffins, and its relatively low contaminant load makes pretreatment lighter than for many wastes, although its acidity calls for corrosion-resistant tanks and lines. PFAD is not listed in Annex IX of the Renewable Energy Directive. Under RED III, several Member States and schemes treat it as a co-product of palm oil refining rather than a residue, with limited or no incentives, and some markets exclude it; others have treated it as a processing residue. Given its link to palm oil, buyers should confirm the classification for their market and the certificate scope for the specific lot with their certification body, and make sure the chain of custody identifies the refinery and supports their mass-balance entries. PFAD is solid at ambient temperature. It is shipped in heated ISO tanks, flexitanks with heating pads and heated bulk parcels, then discharged at a controlled temperature, commonly about 55–70 °C. Stainless steel or lined storage is preferred, and heating should be steady rather than aggressive to avoid darkening. In an enquiry, state whether the material is for fuel, oleochemical or feed use, your FFA and saponifiable matter basis, MIU and iodine value limits, heating and discharge arrangements, volume, delivery terms and documentation needs.