According to oil extraction methods, soybean oil production can be divided into mechanical oil pressing and solvent oil extraction. And crude soybean oil extracted from both mechanical or solvent has impurities and should be refined through a series of oil refining process to get edible refined soybean oil.
Which solvent is used in soybean oil production?
Solvent extraction and expelling are the main processes used in soybean oil production. Hexane is currently the leading solvent in extraction , . This solvent has a high solubility for oil extraction, availability, low price, low boiling point, and heat of vaporization .
What is solvent extraction process in soybean oil extraction?
The solvent extraction process is a common method used for soybean oil extraction. The aim is to use a solvent for dissolving a target solute, and wash it out of the solid plant component. The processes involved at this stage are provided below. Soybeans are first cleaned and cracked.
How do you extract soybean oil from soybean flakes?
This can be achieved through mechanical pressing or by using solvents like hexane. Mechanical pressing involves physically pressing the soybeans to release the oil, while solvent extraction is a more efficient method for large-scale production. After expanding, the soybean flakes are drying to reduce their moisture content.