Soybean Refined Oil Extraction Process at Prestige India

The extraction of soybean oil is a complex process. The hydraulic process of extracting oil i.e. using the mechanical method, gives less yield and is expensive too therefore the extraction with solvent method is used. Soya bean oil extraction at Prestige India is done through the process discussed below. It consists of the following steps:

• Cleansing of soybean seeds

The soybean seeds are first cleaned, dried and dehulled and then the extraction is oil is carried out. The hulls in the soybean seeds absorb oil and therefore lower the overall yield hence, they have to be removed. To do this, the seeds are cracked and then the hull is removed mechanically. In order to remove iron from the seeds, magnet is used. Also, to make the extraction of oil easier, these are heated to 75^oC which coagulates the proteins in it.

• Extraction of soya oil

The soybean seeds are cut into flakes which are then put into percolation extractor and immersed in a solvent, usually hexane. Extraction is done through counter flow system and after the removal of hexane, 1% oil is left which is removed and hexane is passed into evaporators which is then refined and can be reused.

• Purification of oil

The soybean oil extracted in the above step is still crude and consists of oil soluble and insoluble impurities, the oil insoluble impurities are removed through filtration and the soluble ones are removed through various methods like degumming, alkali refining and bleaching, the process of removal may be different for different impurities.

• Hydrogenation of soybean oil

This process is optional; it makes the oil less liquid, it creates greater number of saturated fats and reduces unsaturated fats in the soybean refined oil. Foods like margarine require more solid fats and in that case hydrogenated oil is used.