Palm Fatty Acid Distillate (PFAD)

PFAD is the distillate captured during the deodorisation stage of palm oil refining. Steam stripping under vacuum removes the free fatty acids, and the condensed material collected from that stream is PFAD: a light brown, semi-solid mass at room temperature that is roughly 80–95% free fatty acid, mostly palmitic and oleic, with a minor fraction of vitamin E and phytosterols.

It is a co-product, not a waste, and its value has climbed steadily. Around 3–5% of every tonne of crude palm oil refined ends up as PFAD, and international demand from biodiesel producers in particular has made it a traded commodity in its own right rather than a refinery disposal problem.

Biodiesel is now the dominant outlet. PFAD's very high FFA suits acid-catalysed esterification, and in jurisdictions that treat it as a residue it can attract favourable renewable fuel accounting. Soap manufacturers saponify it directly. Oleochemical plants split it into fatty acids and glycerine as the entry point to a wide derivative range. Animal feed formulators use it as a concentrated energy source, and it also feeds vitamin E and phytosterol extraction for the nutraceutical sector.

iFlowdeck supplies PFAD in bulk flexitanks, ISO tanks and drums, shipped heated where the route and season require it. Consignments are tested for free fatty acid, moisture, saponification value and total fatty matter, and we quote against the actual analysis of the lot you will receive.