Oilseeds, Oils & Fats
EDIBLE OIL REFINING TECHNOLOGY
tailor-made & Process Solutions for Manufacturers in the UAE.
How does it work?
The refining process consists of multiple unit operations, each designed to work together and optimize the final quality of edible oils. During the refining stages, undesirable components are carefully removed, ensuring that valuable qualities of the oil are preserved with minimal loss. The industry typically follows two main refining routes:
Chemical Refining is a versatile and reliable process, primarily used for oils that can be more challenging to refine, such as soybean and rapeseed oils. The process typically includes combined degumming and neutralization, followed by bleaching and deodorizing. For oils containing waxes, such as sunflower and corn oil, an additional winterizing step may be incorporated. A key characteristic of chemical refining is the removal of free fatty acids (FFA) during neutralization, where they are converted into soaps using caustic soda. The heavy phase, known as soapstock, is then separated through centrifugation.
Physical Refining is mainly used for oils with high free fatty acid (FFA) content, such as palm, palm kernel, and coconut oils, as well as some soft oils like sunflower and corn oil. During this process, free fatty acids are removed in the deodorization stage through steam stripping, which allows them to be separated as a distillate. The typical process steps include acid degumming, optional enzymatic deep degumming, bleaching, stripping-deodorizing, and optional winterization. Physical refining is known for lower product losses, especially when dealing with high-FFA oils.
EDIBLE OIL REFINING PROCESS
To better illustrate the two oil refining routes outlined above, we provide a detailed flowchart below. This diagram visually represents each step in the process, starting from crude vegetable and animal oils and fats and leading to the final refined oils and fats, ready for use in edible products.
Edible Oil Production Lines
Continuous lines
Batch lines
Multi-stock bleachers and deodorizers
Preparation and extraction lines for oilseeds
Oleo-chemical lines
Margarine and shortening production lines.
OUR REFINING TECHNOLOGIES PROVIDE
- Advanced Deodorization Systems: Ensuring high-quality oil by removing free fatty acids, odors, and undesirable flavors.
- High-Efficiency Deodorizers: Designed for both small-scale and large-scale operations, offering flexible options including batch, continuous, and semi-continuous systems
- Thermal Bleaching Capabilities: Reducing oil color and decomposing pigments to achieve a cleaner, lighter oil.
- Energy-Efficient Vacuum Systems: Optimizing steam usage and minimizing waste with integrated systems that incorporate chilled water or ice condensing.
- Customizable Solutions: Tailored to meet the specific needs of your production line, ensuring maximum operational efficiency and quality oil output.
DEODORIZATION PROCESS IN OIL REFINING
Deodorization is the final and most critical stage in the edible oil refining process, often referred to as the “heart” of the process, just before the oil is packaged. It plays a key role in removing unwanted compounds that cause unpleasant tastes and odors, as well as free fatty acids from the oil. Additionally, it breaks down and eliminates remaining color compounds using high temperatures. The deodorization process takes place under high temperature (240-250°C) and strong vacuum (1-2 mbar), with sparge steam injected simultaneously to help volatilize the lighter compounds from the oil.
- Removal of odors and tastes.
- Removal of free fatty acids.
- Elimination of peroxides, polar compounds, and anisidinerelated compounds.
STATE-OF-THE-ART EDIBLE OIL REFINING
Our industrial project method covers the entire lifecycle of your plant
Design & Production
DTECH offers a range of deodorizers, including Batch, Continuous, and Semi-Continuous (StockMulti) models, tailored to meet the specific needs of customers
Flexible Operation
Designed for compatibility with various operational conditions
High Thermal Recovery
Low steam consumption and high efficiency
High-Quality Output
The output oil has excellent quality with minimal oil loss
Easy Maintenance
Easy access to all internal components for repairs and maintenance
SPECIFICATIONS AND ADVANTAGES
- Batch Deodorizers (10-20 tons per batch): Ideal for small-scale factories (up to 50 tons per day) or for deodorizing specialty oils such as olive oil, sesame oil, grape seed oil, rice bran oil, or even corn oil in smaller sizes at large factories
- Continuous Deodorizers: Suitable for capacities ranging from 100 to 1000 tons per day. Ideal for factories that require continuous high-volume production with minimal oil type changes and high deodorizing efficiency
- Semi-Continuous Deodorizers (Continuous-Semi or Stock-Multi): Perfect for factories needing high-volume production with high flexibility and frequent oil changes during the week. These systems minimize oil change time and oil mixing, offering excellent flexibility and performance.
Why Choose DTECH?
- Over a decade of experience in industrial equipment
- Partnerships with local EPC firms and civil contractors
- European-grade engineering, GCC compliance
- Dedicated team for automation and digitalization (PLC/SCADA)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Physical refining is primarily used for high-FFA (Free Fatty Acid) oils, like palm and coconut oil. It involves deodorization to remove free fatty acids and unwanted compounds, using high temperature and vacuum conditions.
Chemical refining is typically used for oils like soybean and rapeseed. It involves neutralization with caustic soda to remove free fatty acids, followed by bleaching and deodorization. This method is more forgiving for oils with complex compositions.
Deodorization is the final step in the oil refining process, where unwanted odors, tastes, and free fatty acids are removed. This is achieved by heating the oil under high vacuum conditions and injecting sparge steam to strip away volatile compounds, ensuring the oil has a neutral taste and is suitable for consumption.
Winterization is a process used to remove waxes and solid compounds from oils, particularly those like sunflower and corn oil. The oil is cooled to low temperatures, and the solid components are separated by filtration, making the oil suitable for use in colder environments without crystallization.
We offer three main types of deodorizing systems:
Batch Deodorizers: Suitable for smaller volumes or specialty oils, with the ability to process individual batches.
Continuous Deodorizers: Designed for large-scale, continuous production with high deodorization efficiency.
Semi-Continuous Deodorizers: A hybrid solution offering flexibility to change oil types with minimal downtime, ideal for factories requiring high-volume production and frequent oil changes.
Bleaching is used to remove color and impurities from the oil. During this process, the oil is treated with adsorbent clays that absorb pigments and other unwanted compounds, improving the clarity and color of the final product.
Bleaching is used to remove color and impurities from the oil. During this process, the oil is treated with adsorbent clays that absorb pigments and other unwanted compounds, improving the clarity and color of the final product.
Transform Your Ideas into Reality with DTECH’s Food Industry Solutions
DTECH delivers turnkey food processing plants in the UAE—designed to meet international standards while adapting to local regulations and consumer trends. across the GCC, leading brands trust our solutions for efficiency, hygiene, and scalability.
With our end-to-end expertise—from design and engineering to installation and automation—we help you create a facility that drives growth and sets new benchmarks in food manufacturing.
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