Know More about Edible Oil Processing

The edible oil we eat generally falls into two categories: 1) Vegetable oil which are procured by processing soybeans, olives, coconuts, corn, peanuts, sunflower seeds, cotton seeds, sesame seeds, flax seeds and safflower seeds. 2) Animal oils and fats that are transformed from the cuttings of freshly slaughtered animals.

Vegetable oil processing

Vegetable oils are obtained by grinding, cooking, expelling and pressing, or by solvent extraction of raw materials. After the filtration the oil are put in crude oil storage. The tanks used in oil storage are equipped with side entry mixers to keep the foots in suspension and ensure a constant supply to down-stream equipment. These tanks are often built with heating pipes.

Now come batch refining. Here the oil is treated with a 20% caustic solution to react the fatty acids. This process results in the formation of soft soaps which poured off. The oil then goes to refined oil storage. The tanks used in this edible oil processing stage provide surge capacity in the system. Lower power levels are used than for crude oil with foots.

The process of edible oil processing leads to further stages of blending and bleaching. Blending is done in small tanks with portable mixers at 0.3 - 0.4 HP/1000 gallons for 20 - 30 minute blend times. Larger tanks will use side entry mixers at 0.2 - 0.3 HP/1000 gallons. The bleaching of edible oil is done by extensive mixing 0.5 -2.0% bleaching clay.

The modification of is done by hydrogenation which bring down the degree of un-saturation, raise the melting range, enhance color and the resistance of oxidation. This process is carried out in hydro generators which are generally tall tanks with cooling coils and multiple impellers working at relatively high speeds. The core catalyst is nickel on Kieselguhr. The supply of hydrogen is tightly controlled due to highly exothermic reaction. Mixer power levels will range from 3-10 HP/1000 gallons with Rushton turbines for primary gas dispersion and axial impellers to promote heat transfer and to reincorporate hydrogen from the vapor space by vortexing.

This is a common process adopted by various companies for edible oil processing. However, this process might be changed if used in different circumstances. The ultimate purpose of oil refining is to remove extra fatty acids and restricting the oils from oxidation. It not only removes unwanted elements but also enhances its odor, taste and color.

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