**5.14 Physical refining**

Operations involved in physical refining are degumming, bleaching, filtration, steam stripping, deodourisation, and polishing. Crude palm oil is mixed with 0.21% phosphoric acid followed by bleaching with 1–2% earth under vacuum at 100–150°C and the spent earth is removed by filtration. The refined and bleached oil was deaerated and steamed under a vacuum at 240–2270°C. Finally, the oil is cooled and passed through a polishing filter. The physical method will yield better-quality oil and avoid contamination. The final product of both refining methods is the same *viz.*, refined and deodorized palm oil (RBDPO).
