Technochem
International, Inc.
224 Suite 1, East S. 16th St.
Ames, IA 50010, U.S.A.
Tel: 727-498-4567
Fax: 515-232-1694
|
Glossary of Field-Specific Terms
Refining of Vegetable Oils:
Refining implies removal of physical and/or chemical impurities from crude oils to create cooking oil that satisfies consumer preferences. Refining includes common processes such as de-gumming, de-acidification, de-coloring, de-odorizing, and de-waxing. The exact combination of various processes depends upon the type of oil. For example, refining of soybean oil involves the processes such as de-gumming, de-acidification, de-coloring, and de-odorizing. Some oils can be refined with chemical refining as well as physical refining.
Bakery Fat Production
The bakery industry used hydrogenated oil (i.e., shortening). However, the shortening for bakery application should be of smooth texture. Granular texture, while desired in vanaspati ghee, leads to bleeding of fat in bakery products. Hence, hydrogenated oil is cooled under controlled conditions to get a product with smooth plastic texture suitable for the bakery industry. Technochem manufactures scraped-surface heat-exchanger to produce bakery fat.
Chemical Refining of Oils
Oil is treated with caustic lye for separation of free fatty acids from oil. This is a conventional process that can be applied to all oils. A byproduct of alkali refining is soap-stock, which is used for manufacture of low quality washing soap. Alternately, the soap-stock can be treated with acid to recover fatty acids. The effluent from refinery requires extensive treatment. This can be avoided by alternate physical refining process.
De-gumming of Oils
De-gumming is a necessary step prior to refining for some oils. Various options like simple water de-gumming, acid/water de-gumming, dry de-gumming or enzymic de-gumming can be applied with respect to crude oil quality and desired product specifications/quality.
De-waxing of Oils
De-waxing systems are custom designed particularly for rice bran oil and sunflower oil. Dewaxing is necessary to make the oil free from waxes that are not desired in cooking oils.
Hydrogen GenerationHydrogen gas is needed for hydrogenation of oils. Hydrogen gas should be free from impurities like sulphur, oxygen, and carbon monoxide. Electrolysis of water is the simplest way to produce pure hydrogen gas at most economical price. Technochem supplies gas generation plants based on the electrolytic process.
Hydrogenation of Oils
Hydrogenation converts liquid oils into shortening (or vanaspati), stearic acid, or candle wax. Some manufacturers prefer partial hydrogenation of cooking oils to improve the shelf or fry-life of oil. Technochem is popular in India and neighboring countries for having supplied most energy efficient hydrogenating and hydrogen generation equipment to more than 125 factories.
Inter-Esterification of Oils
Esterification of oils with low molecular weight alcohols like methyl or ethyl alcohol produces methyl or ethyl ester of fatty acids to produce bio-diesel. Inter-esterification between two or more oils is also used for changing the fatty acid distribution in the oils. Process is also used for manufacture of mono and di-esters.
Lecithin Recovery Plants
The gums produced in the degumming of oils are called lecithins. Lecithin can be a byproduct of oil refining. A separate plant is needed to dehydrate the gummy substance to recover lecithins.
Packaging Plants
Oil packaging systems can be supplied for desired capacities. These can be manually operated or automated.
Physical Refining of Oils
In physical refining, the free fatty acids are removed from oil during deodorizing. The alkali treatment is completely avoided. This reduces the load on effluent treatment. This process is becoming more popular. The process has been successfully engineered for soybean oil in a plant in USA supplied by Technochem.
Shortening
Shortening is made by hydrogenation of vegetable oils. Hydrogenation makes the oil more saturated and thus more stable. Shortening is used in cooking, frying, and bakery preparations. Technochem supplies complete plants for manufacture of shortening.
Utility Services
The oil refining plants need steam, distilled water, demineralized water, cooling water, compressed air, etc. Equipment to produce and supply these utilities can be supplied by us.
Vanaspati Production
Shortening is known as "vanaspati ghee" in South-Asian countries, mainly India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Vanaspati ghee is a replacement for "butter" fat, which used to be a popular cooking medium in these countries. Vanaspati ghee has a granular texture which is obtained by cooling the hydrogenated oil under certain conditions. Technochem supplies complete plants for manufacture of vanaspati ghee.
Winterization
Winterization systems are custom designed particularly for peanut oil and cottonseed oil. Winterization is necessary to keep the oil clear when it is stored in refrigerated conditions.
|
|
