Oil Refining Stripping Column Reduces 3-MCPD and Glycidyl Esters
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Solution Overview
Problem
The refining process of oils introduces high levels of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol fatty acid esters (3-MCPD esters), 2-chloro-1,3-propanediol fatty acid esters (2-MCPD esters), and glycidyl esters, which are harmful and undesirable in refined oils, due to high temperatures used during deodorization, leading to the need for an efficient method to produce oils with low levels of these contaminants.
Innovation Solution
A process involving a bleaching step, deodorization, re-bleaching, and a further refining step using a stripping column with packing and no more than one oil collection tray, which allows for short residence times and low temperatures, minimizing the formation of unwanted substances like 3-MCPD esters, 2-MCPD esters, and glycidyl esters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional deodorization is performed at high temperatures to remove impurities, then the refining efficiency is improved, but the content of harmful substances (3-MCPD esters, 2-MCPD esters, and glycidyl esters) increases
Solution Approach 1:
The refining process is divided into multiple sequential steps: initial bleaching, deodorization at controlled temperature, re-bleaching, and further refining. This segmentation allows each step to target specific impurities under optimized conditions, reducing the formation of harmful substances while maintaining refining efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The process employs parameter changes by conducting deodorization at controlled temperatures (avoiding excessive heat) and using vacuum conditions in the stripping column. These parameter modifications reduce thermal degradation and minimize the formation of 3-MCPD esters, 2-MCPD esters, and glycidyl esters while still achieving effective impurity removal
2Manufacturing precision
If extended residence time is used in refining equipment to ensure complete processing, then the purification quality is improved, but the formation of unwanted substances increases and energy consumption rises
Solution Approach 1:
The re-bleaching step is performed before the final refining stage to pre-remove pigments and oxidation products. This preliminary action reduces the burden on the subsequent stripping column, allowing shorter residence times while still achieving high purification quality and minimizing unwanted substance formation
Solution Approach 2:
The stripping column operates under vacuum conditions that accelerate the removal of volatile impurities and hydroperoxides. This allows the process to rush through the final purification stage quickly, reducing residence time and preventing the formation of unwanted substances while maintaining high purification quality
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This process effectively reduces the content of hydroperoxides and volatiles in refined oils, maintaining low levels of process contaminants while ensuring a good taste and oxidation stability, with significant reductions in residence time and energy costs compared to traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
passing the bleached edible oil obtained in step c) under vacuum through an oil refining equipment consisting of a stripping column with packing
Implementation Method 2
an oil refining equipment consisting of a stripping column with packing
Data Source
AI summary
A process for the production of a refined oil having a reduced content of glycidyl esters and hydroperoxides characterized in that it comprises subjecting an edible oil to the following steps, a bleaching step, a deodorization step, re-bleaching step on the deodorized oil, and a further refining step, wherein the further refining step is carried out by passing the bleached edible oil obtained in step c) through an oil refining equipment consisting of a stripping column with packing and not more than one oil collection tray.