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Refining process
How we refine sunflower oil
Refining turns crude sunflower oil into the clean, stable, neutral product your market expects — through a sequence of controlled steps.
Overview
From crude to clean
Crude sunflower oil contains free fatty acids, phosphatides, colour bodies and waxes that must be removed for a stable, neutral finished oil.
Our continuous refining line performs each step under process control, with laboratory checks confirming the result.
The stages
Five refining steps
Neutralising
Free fatty acids removed to lower acidity.
Bleaching
Colour bodies and trace metals adsorbed and filtered out.
Winterising
Waxes crystallised and removed for clarity when chilled.
Deodorising
Steam deodorising under vacuum for a neutral taste.
Filtration
Fine polishing filtration before filling.
Step by step
The refining sequence
01
Degumming & neutralising
Phosphatides and free fatty acids are removed.
02
Bleaching
Bleaching earth adsorbs colour and impurities, then is filtered off.
03
Winterising
The oil is chilled so waxes crystallise and can be filtered.
04
Deodorising
Steam under vacuum strips odours and volatile compounds.
05
Polishing & filling
Final filtration, then bottling or bulk loading.
Frequently asked
Refining Process FAQs
What does RBDW mean?
Refined, Bleached, Deodorised and Winterised — the full refining sequence our P-grade oil undergoes.
Does refining affect nutritional value?
Refining removes impurities while retaining the oil’s fatty-acid profile; details are on each data sheet.
Can you supply partially processed oil?
Yes — crude and degummed grades are available for buyers who refine in-house.
Sourcing refined sunflower oil?
Tell us your specification and volume for a firm quotation.