The process of refining edible oil Refining edible oils is a step-by-step process. Refining the oil removes phospholipids, pigments, foreign flavors, free fatty acids and other impurities. The process of any oil refining plant includes degumming, neutralization, discoloration, deodorization, and wintering processes. Chemical refining is done in order to remove the fatty acids contained in the crude oil which is extracted from the seeds. These are further neutralized by the use of caustic soda. This process makes it possible to remove sodium soaps by decanting the contents of the tank or by using centrifugal separators. Oils whose acids have been neutralized are then bleached and deodorized.
Rather than conduct a chemical refining, another method, the mechanical refining, can be used for the refining of edible oil. Thanks to this method, free fatty acids are removed by a distillation process with a single deodorization step. In order to achieve effective results, crude oil must be carefully degummed. However, this process does not apply to certain oils such as cottonseed oil. All kinds of refining methods are carried out using various equipment and machines, and these methods are all used to refine almost all types of oils that are extracted from oilseeds, such as sunflower, flax, sesame, mustard, and from legumes like peanuts, etc.
Mechanical and chemical refining processes are defined by the technology that is used. Mechanical refining is done through a degumming process during which the oil is released from its gum, a special method to separate free fatty acids during the steam deodorization process. As for chemical refining, it is done by using chemicals (acid-base neutralization) to free the oil from its free fatty acids. Subsequently, the gum and paraffin are separated by centrifuges.
- Refining technology
- Peculiarities of physical refining
- High level of refinement; less oil loss
- No wastewater discharge
- More distilled free fatty acids
- Particularly suitable for very acidic oils, and those with low gum content
- Special features of chemical refining
- Excellent adaptability and less requirement for high quality oils
- Refined oil is compliant and stable
- Less bleaching clay required compared to physical refining
- Process of an oil refining plant
With 10 years of experience in manufacturing and exporting complete oil mill plants as well as a variety of oil mill machinery, KMEC is an expert in edible oil refining. In the oil refining plant, there are several steps to be followed.
Take-off section
Take-off phase
With 10 years of experience in manufacturing and exporting complete oil mill plants as well as a variety of oil mill machinery, KMEC is an expert in edible oil refining. In the oil refining plant, there are several steps to be followed.