Which industrial technologies are used for vegetable oils’ refining?
The present review aimed at comparing the two main industrial technologies used for vegetable oils’ refining, namely, chemical refining and physical refining. Chemical refining removes free fatty acids by soda neutralization.
How are vegetable oils obtained?
Vegetable oils are obtained by mechanical expelling or solvent extraction of oleaginous seeds (soybeans, rapeseed, sunflower, etc.) or oleaginous fruit like palm and olive [ 2 ].
What is chemical refining?
Chemical refining is the traditional method used since ancient times. It can be used for all fats and oils even when they have been slightly degraded. Each step of the refining process has specific functions for removing some undesirable compounds. Chemical refining follows six processes:
Why is degumming important in vegetable oil refining?
Degumming is a crucial step in the refining process of vegetable oils [ 9 ]. It allows the elimination of “gums” or “mucilage,” composed mainly of phospholipids from the crude oil as well as compounds such as carbohydrates, proteins, and trace of metals [ 9, 34 ]. Phospholipids or phosphatides are naturally present in oils.