The vegetable oil industry emits an average of 3.81 kg of CO2e per kg of refined oil, according to the University of Nottingham. This significant level of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is consistent across various oil crops such as palm, soybean, rapeseed, and sunflower, produced by over 6,000 producers in more than 40 countries, collectively representing over 71% of global vegetable oil production. The carbon footprint, however, varies by crop: rapeseed oil has a median emission of 2.49 kg CO2e per kg of refined oil, while soybean oil emissions can reach up to 4.25 kg CO2e per kg.

The refining process is particularly energy-intensive, relying heavily on fossil fuels through conventional methods like thermal extraction and chemical refining. To produce just one tonne of edible oil, between 4 to 10 tonnes of solvents are required to be heated, vaporized, and condensed using traditional distillation methods. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, this process is utilized annually to produce over 200 million tonnes of edible oils globally.

As global demand for vegetable oil increases, the economic and environmental challenges intensify. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development estimates the vegetable oil demand to increase by 20% by 2023!

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Our Organic Solvent Nanofiltration (OSN) membrane technology offers a transformative, energy-efficient alternative for the vegetable oil refining industry. By adopting OSN membrane technology, the vegetable oil industry can dramatically lower its carbon footprint, reduce energy costs, and contribute to a more sustainable future. As demand for vegetable oils continues to rise, exploring advanced technologies like OSN membranes is essential to meeting global needs while meeting environmental impact.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS) ABOUT Vegetable Oil Refining

Refining is necessary, because crude oil contains impurities that affect the quality, taste, and safety of the oil. These impurities can lead to off-flavors, shorter shelf life, and health concerns if consumed. Refining ensures that the oil meets food safety and quality standards.
The vegetable oil refining process involves the use of several chemicals to remove impurities and improve quality of the oil. Common chemicals used include sodium hydroxide for neutralization, which helps remove free fatty acids, phosphoric or citric acid in the degumming process to remove phospholipids, and activated carbon to absorb color pigments and other impurities during bleaching. These chemicals play a vital role in ensuring that the refined oil is pure, stable, and suitable for consumption.
The vegetable oil refining process involves several key steps to ensure the oil is safe for consumption and of high quality. These steps include:
1. Degumming: The first step in the vegetable oil refinery process is degumming, which involves removal of phospholipids (gums) from the crude oil.
2. Neutralization: Elimination of free fatty acids using an alkaline substance.
3. Bleaching: Removal of colour pigments, oxidation products, and other impurities using bleaching earth or activated carbon. Effective edible oil refinery equipment is crucial in this stage to ensure that the bleaching process is efficient and consistent.
4. Deodorization: Removing any remaining odors and flavors through steam distillation under vacuum conditions.
5. Filtration: Ensuring final purity of the oil by removing any remaining solid impurities.
Each of these steps is essential in producing refined vegetable oil that meets industry standards and consumer expectations.
Hexane is commonly used in vegetable oil extraction, because it efficiently extracts oil from seeds. However, it is environmentally unfriendly due to its high energy requirements for recovery, its contribution to air pollution through Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions, and the risk associated with its flammability and toxicity, which can harm both workers and ecosystems if not properly managed.
Yes! Emerging technologies like Organic Solvent Nanofiltration (OSN) membranes offer a more sustainable alternative. These membranes enhance operations while significantly reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, making the vegetable oil refining process safer and more cost-effective.

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