The Crucial Role of Refining Units in Edible Oil Extraction

The refining unit plays a crucial role in the oil extraction process. Its main function is to deeply process the crude or semi-refined oil to remove impurities, undesirable pigments, and odor substances, thereby improving the purity, taste, and quality of the oil.

Specifically, the refining unit uses a series of physical and chemical methods, such as degumming, deacidification, dephosphorization, deodorization, and decolorization, to deeply refine the oil. These processes effectively remove phospholipids, gums, waxes, free fatty acids, pigments, and odor substances from the oil, making it clearer, better-tasting, and more stable for storage.

The main equipment of the refining unit includes acid-base reaction tanks, centrifugal separators, decolorization tanks, vacuum deodorization equipment, and supporting pipes, tanks, and oil pumps. These devices work together to complete the oil refining process. For example, acid-base reaction tanks are used to neutralize free fatty acids and acidic substances in the oil; centrifugal separators are used to separate solid particles and impurities from the oil; decolorization tanks and vacuum deodorization equipment are used to remove pigments and odor substances from the oil, respectively.

The working principle of the refining unit is mainly based on physical and chemical methods to purify, separate, and refine the raw materials. Specifically, it first separates impurities and impurity particles from the raw materials through physical or chemical methods to improve the product's purity. Then, the purified material is separated to extract the target substance from the mixture, further improving the product's purity. Finally, residual impurities are removed through chemical reactions and physical operations to achieve the desired purity.

The process flow of the refining unit mainly includes the following steps:

1. Raw Material Preparation: 

Select suitable raw materials according to the refining target and carry out necessary pretreatment, such as crushing and screening.

2. Purification Treatment: 

Use physical or chemical methods to purify the raw materials and remove impurities. Common physical purification methods include filtration, centrifugation, and sedimentation, while chemical purification methods include precipitation, adsorption, and ion exchange.

3. Separation and Extraction: 

Separate the purified material to extract the target substance. This can be achieved through methods such as distillation and crystallization. Distillation involves heating the mixture to vaporize and condense the components separately, achieving separation; crystallization involves controlling the temperature to crystallize certain components from the solution and then separating them.

4. Refining Treatment: 

In the refining stage, residual impurities are removed through chemical reactions and physical operations to achieve the desired purity. This may include heat treatment, pressure treatment, and chemical reactions with other substances.

5. Product Testing and Adjustment: 

Conduct quality testing on the refined product to ensure it meets relevant standards and requirements. If the product's purity or quality does not meet the requirements, the refining unit will adjust parameters, such as changing temperature, pressure, or reaction time, to optimize product quality.

Throughout the process, the refining unit ensures precise execution and efficient operation of each step through automated control and intelligent management. Additionally, the refining unit is energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, reducing energy consumption and emissions through optimized process parameters and equipment configuration, achieving sustainable development.

The oil processed by the refining unit not only meets the quality standards of relevant departments but also aligns with people's pursuit of healthy eating. Refined oil has higher nutritional and economic value and is widely used in food, chemical, pharmaceutical, and other fields.

In summary, the main working principle and process of the refining unit are complex and precise, involving multiple steps and technical means. Through this process, the refining unit can efficiently remove impurities from raw materials, improve product purity and quality, and provide high-quality raw materials and products for industrial production.