The Role of Extrusion in Soybean Oil Pressing

Soybeans as an Important Resource Soybeans are both an essential oilseed and a vital source of plant protein. In soybean oil production, oilseeds must undergo preprocessing before entering oil presses or extraction equipment. Preprocessing aims to remove impurities such as stones, soil, and straw, as well as to crush and reshape the seeds, adjust moisture content, and create structured oilseeds. Soybean preprocessing steps include cleaning, crushing, softening, rolling, and steaming. The quality of preprocessing directly impacts the effectiveness of oil production.

Extrusion Process in Soybean Oil Production 

During soybean oil production, extrusion involves heat treatment to expand the oilseeds' volume, loosen molecular arrangements, evaporate moisture, and partially disrupt protein structures. This increases the pressing efficiency and quality of soybean oil. Additionally, extrusion reduces the toxin content in oilseeds, promoting better health.

Extrusion gelatinizes starch, denatures proteins, and breaks down cell structures, allowing oil to diffuse more evenly for efficient extraction. Common extrusion equipment includes closed-wall extruders for low-oil-content seeds and grooved-wall extruders for high-oil-content seeds.

Impact of Extrusion on Soybean Oil Yield

Extrusion expands soybean volume, rupturing cell walls to release oil more effectively and increase yield. It also lowers surface tension, making it easier for the oil to be expelled and improving pressing efficiency.

Impact of Extrusion on Soybean Oil Quality

Heat treatment during extrusion decomposes certain acidic components, reducing the acid value of soybean oil and improving its quality. Extrusion also decreases oxidation levels, enhances oil stability, and lowers sensitivity to ozone.Soybeans contain harmful substances such as aflatoxins and phenols. Extrusion releases these toxins, which evaporate with moisture, reducing their presence in soybean oil.Extrusion technology in soybean oil production improves oil quality and yield while reducing toxins, offering strong application and market potential.

Efficient soybean production technology is key to ensuring the quality of soybean oil production. If you are interested in this equipment series, feel free to contact us—we also welcome you to visit our Huatai Oil Machinery factory for a tour and assessment.