Production of High Oleic Palm Oils on a Pilot Scale

Refined, bleached and deodorized palm olein (RBD POo) with an iodine value (IV) of 62 was chemically interesterified with methyl oleate (MO) at a ratio of 50:50 (w/w). The reaction was carried out at 110 °C in the presence of sodium methoxide as a catalyst using a 100‐kg pilot scale reactor. Randomization between 15 and 30 min resulted in less free fatty acid (FFA) formation and higher oleic content in the interesterified product as compared to longer reaction time of 60–90 min. Sodium methoxide‐catalyzed ester interchange increased the oleic content of the interesterified product to more than 57% from its initial content of 45%. The product obtained also has an IV of more than 75. The interesterified oil was then subjected to dry fractionation in a 200‐kg De Smet jacketed crystallizer at 8 °C to further enhance the oleic content of the liquid olein fraction. The resulted olein had an improved cloud point and higher IV of 81. The solid stearin had a slightly higher IV and oleic content as compared to normal palm stearin. The solid fat content was comparable to normal palm oil. The pilot scale study has proven a successful conversion of laboratory findings to a larger scale production and gave the most realistic information for possible commercialization.