Rening Introduction to the Processing of Fats and Oils

TABLE 8Degumming Processes

Water degumming Acidwater degumming Acidbase degumming Enzymatic degumming Chelate/detergent degumming The following degumming method is used with oils that will be caustic refined (Table 8). In the water degumming process (Figs. 2 and 3) crude oil is mixed with 12% water, mechanically agitated at 70C to hydrate the phospholipids and colloidal impurities. Water quality is important; water with high levels of dissolved minerals could interfere with proper degumming. The water and oil mixture is then mildly agitated

Crude oil
Heater

Mixer

Hydrat./ agglom Centrifuge

FIGURE 2. Water degumming scheme.

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Rening Introduction to the Processing of Fats and Oils

FIGURE 3. Water degumming diagram. for 1530 minutes. The water soluble phospholipids and hydrophilic components are then separated from the oil by centrifugation, and the oil further dried by vacuum. The following degumming steps are used with oils that are physically rened (Figs. 4 and 5). In the acidwater degumming process crude oil is mixed with 0.0050.1% citric acid and 12% water at 70C. The acid-water-oil mixture is then mixed for seconds only. The mixture is then cooled to 45C and allowed to hydrate for 60 minutes. The water-soluble substances are then separated from the oil. Degummed oil goes to the bleaching process. In the acidcaustic degumming process (Fig. 6) crude oil is heated to 90C, mixed with 0.1% concentrated phosphoric acid, and mixed at a high intensity for seconds. The mixture is allowed to rest for 15 minutes. Then 0.1% NaOH (to neutralize phosphoric acid) is added and the solution is mixed at a low intensity for seconds. The low oil content gums are collected as meal. Water is then added to the mixture, and the degummed oil then goes to bleaching. The high oil gums are then recycled back into the mixture. This process is not suitable if making lecithin. A comparison of the nontriglyceride components in an oil (Table 9), after the degumming process, to the crude canola oil, shows that degumming affects only the phosphorus content of the oil. Chemical degumming reduces iron content. Neither rening process reduces chlorophyll content.
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Rening Introduction to the Processing of Fats and Oils

Crude oil
Heat/cool Mixer Mixer Cooler Hydrat./ agglom Heater Centrifuge (selfdesl.)

FIGURE 4. Acidwater degumming scheme.

FIGURE 5. Acidwater degumming diagram.

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Rening Introduction to the Processing of Fats and Oils

Crude or water degummed oil

FIGURE 6. Acidcaustic degumming.

TABLE 9Nontriglyceride Components of Crude, Water-Degummed, and Chemically Degummed Canola Oil
Crude oil Free fatty acids, % Phosphorus, mg/kga Sulfur, mg/kgb Chlorophyll, mg/kgc Fe, mg/kgd
a b

Water degummed 0.41.2 100250 315 535 25

Chemically (acid) degummed 0.41.2 550 315 535 < 0.5

0.41.2 300500 315 535 25

Degumming affects only the phosphorus content of the oil. Sulfur, if present, is not decreased, as in rapeseed. c Chlorophyll content is not decreased. d Iron content is usually removed to only a minor extent, except in chemical degumming. III-19