A survey (Tang et al., 1996) to gather information on the types of heating media used in the Malaysian palm oil refineries carried out by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) in 1995 revealed that a majority of the older palm oil refineries still use thermal heating fluids as heat-transfer media, but none of the fluids used are certified as food-grade. Even though the authority has recommended the replacement of thermal heating fluids by high-pressure steam as an alternative heat-transfer media, such move was slow as the cost involved is rather high.

Main Researcher: Felix Moh Mee Ho