The first step is to wash the crude oil with water. Water and oil are thoroughly mixed so they can have intensive contact. The water-soluble compounds will leave the oil phase and will go to the water phase. This oil and water mixture is then separated.
As oil is lighter than water, oil will form a layer on the top. This base will then go to a bleaching step: the oil is mixed with a special type of natural earth. Thanks to this earth, impurities are bound and removed from the oil.
Steam process follows, removing volatile components. These components turn into gas, which will eventually leave the oi. The result of this process is a healthy vegetable oil.
After refining, the oil is brought to a fractionation facility where it is separated into different fractions. Each fraction has specific properties. A very important one is the melting point. The melting points of these fractions determines their application. Some can, for example, be used for the production of margarine, while others are used for cookies or creams. In this way, palm oil finds its way into a great variety of products.
