Two-Stage Steam Deodorization for Fat and Oil Refining

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional deodorization processes for refining fats and oils often generate by-products like glycidol fatty acid esters, leading to poor taste and flavor, especially when high temperatures are used, and low temperatures fail to adequately improve flavor while increasing by-product production, particularly in diacylglycerol-rich oils.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a first steam treatment of fats or oils at temperatures between 200-280°C, followed by a second steam treatment with an organic acid at a lower temperature, preferably with citric acid, to reduce by-products and enhance flavor and taste, while maintaining a high diacylglycerol content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If high temperature deodorization is used to improve taste and flavor, then by-products such as glycidol fatty acid esters are generated, but taste and flavor deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetaste and flavor improvementVSAvoidby-product generation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The deodorization process is divided into two distinct stages: a first deodorization step at high temperature (200-280°C) to remove odor components and improve flavor, followed by a second deodorization step at lower temperature (10-100°C lower than the first step) to remove by-products. This segmentation allows each step to target different objectives, resolving the contradiction between flavor improvement and by-product reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first deodorization step is performed as a preliminary action to improve taste and flavor before the second step. By conducting the high-temperature treatment first, the beneficial flavor improvement is achieved, and then the lower-temperature second step removes the by-products generated in the first step without compromising the already-improved flavor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-generated harmful factors

If low temperature deodorization is used to reduce by-products, then by-product generation decreases, but taste and flavor improvement is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveby-product reductionVSAvoidtaste and flavor improvement
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The deodorization process is divided into two distinct stages: a first deodorization step at high temperature (200-280°C) to remove odor components and improve flavor, followed by a second deodorization step at lower temperature (10-100°C lower than the first step) to remove by-products. This segmentation allows each step to target different objectives, resolving the contradiction between flavor improvement and by-product reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If conventional single-step deodorization is used to simplify the process, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but both by-products and flavor quality cannot be simultaneously optimized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess simplicityVSAvoidby-product and flavor control
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The deodorization process is divided into two distinct stages: a first deodorization step at high temperature (200-280°C) to remove odor components and improve flavor, followed by a second deodorization step at lower temperature (10-100°C lower than the first step) to remove by-products. This segmentation allows each step to target different objectives, resolving the contradiction between flavor improvement and by-product reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the temperature parameter between two deodorization steps. The first step uses high temperature (200-280°C) for effective odor removal and flavor improvement, while the second step uses a lower temperature (10-100°C lower) to minimize by-product formation. This parameter change strategy allows optimization of both flavor quality and by-product reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 method effectively reduces by-products such as glycidol fatty acid esters, resulting in refined oils with improved taste and flavor, maintaining a diacylglycerol content of 20% or more, and achieving a glycidol fatty acid ester content of less than 10 ppm, which is highly acceptable to consumers.

Implementation Method 1

carrying out a first steam treatment of bringing a fat or oil into contact with water vapor; and subsequently carrying out a second steam treatment of bringing the fat or oil into contact with water vapor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSteam treatment: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS9006474B2Method for producing refined a fat or oil
Publication Date: 2015.04.14 KAO CORP

AI summary

A method for manufacturing a refined fat or oil, including: carrying out a first steam treatment of bringing a fat or oil into contact with water vapor; and subsequently carrying out a second steam treatment of bringing the fat or oil having a temperature lower by 10° C. or more than a temperature of the fat or oil in the first steam treatment into contact with water vapor in the presence of an organic acid.