Palm Kernel Fatty Acid Distillate (PKFAD)

About This Product

Palm kernel fatty acid distillate (PKFAD) is the fatty acid fraction stripped from palm kernel oil during physical refining. Palm kernel oil is pressed or extracted from the kernel of the oil palm fruit, not from the fleshy mesocarp that gives palm oil, and it has a very different, lauric-rich composition. When the degummed and bleached oil is deodorised with steam under vacuum, its free fatty acids distil off and are condensed as PKFAD, carrying some entrained glycerides and minor components with them. The distillate is dominated by lauric acid (C12), with substantial myristic acid (C14) and smaller amounts of capric, caprylic, palmitic and oleic acids. Its iodine value is low, typically below 30 g I2/100 g, and FFA is usually above 70 %, expressed as lauric acid. It melts at a lower temperature than PFAD but can still set in cool conditions. MIU is normally low, because the oil was degummed and bleached before distillation. In biodiesel, PKFAD is esterified directly, and the resulting lauric-rich methyl ester is fluid and stable; check viscosity, flash point and cold-flow behaviour against EN 14214 before blending. In HVO and HEFA-SPK (SAF), the shorter chains crack into lighter products, shifting yield away from diesel and jet towards naphtha and light ends, so producers that optimise for jet usually limit its share of the feed slate. Its low unsaturation, however, reduces hydrogen demand compared with high-iodine feedstocks. Typical contract parameters are FFA, saponifiable matter, MIU, iodine value, fatty acid composition (particularly the C12 and C14 content), sulphur and phosphorus. Because lauric fatty acids are valued for soaps, surfactants and other oleochemicals, PKFAD often has stronger non-fuel demand than PFAD, and fatty acid composition is frequently the parameter that decides where a lot is best used. PKFAD is not listed in Annex IX of the Renewable Energy Directive. As a palm-derived refining by-product, it is often discussed alongside PFAD and may be treated as a co-product with limited or no incentives under RED III, depending on the Member State and scheme. Confirm the classification and the certificate scope for the specific lot with your certification body, and ask for chain-of-custody documents that identify the refinery and support your mass-balance entries. PKFAD is shipped in heated ISO tanks, flexitanks with heating pads and heated bulk parcels, typically discharged at about 40–55 °C, in stainless or lined tanks because of its acidity. In an enquiry, state the intended use, the FFA and C12–C14 content required, MIU and iodine value limits, heating arrangements, volume, delivery terms and documentation needs.