Huanyang delivers comprehensive soybean oil refining plant solutions, from entry-level small-scale soybean oil refinery units (1 ton/day) to medium and large soya oil refinery plants with capacities up to 30 tons/day. As a leading manufacturer of soybean oil refining equipment, Huanyang is committed to providing customized, energy-efficient, and cost-effective refinery plant designs tailored to meet clients’ production requirements.
Why Refine Soybean Oil?
Crude soybean oil obtained through mechanical pressing or solvent extraction contains various impurities, making it unsuitable for direct consumption. These impurities include:
- Phospholipids (gum)
- Free fatty acids (FFA)
- Pigments
- Off-flavors
- Oxidized components
Soybeans have relatively low oil content (11%–20%), making solvent extraction the most efficient oil extraction method currently available. While this process yields high-quality crude oil, it fails to remove harmful components. Unrefined soybean oil is also rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids like linoleic acid (50%–65%), which are prone to oxidation. This leads to a short shelf life and potential health risks.
Refining crude soybean oil into edible refined soybean oil removes impurities, enhances stability, and ensures the final product meets national and international food-grade standards.
Key Processes in a Soybean Oil Refinery Plant
A typical soybean oil refining process comprises four main stages:
1. Degumming
In this first step, crude oil is pumped from storage tanks into a neutralizer and heated to 60–70°C using direct and indirect steam. Phosphoric acid is added to hydrate and precipitate phospholipids. After 30 minutes of reaction, the temperature is raised, and a caustic soda solution is introduced to neutralize free fatty acids. The resulting soapstock is separated via hot water washing and sedimentation. The process ensures the removal of gums and other hydratable impurities.
2. Neutralization
Also known as alkali refining, this stage treats the degummed oil with an alkaline solution to saponify remaining free fatty acids. A centrifugal separator removes the soap, followed by hot water washing to eliminate residual soaps. The oil is then dried to reduce moisture content.
3. Bleaching
The neutralized oil is sent to a dual-stage bleaching system, where adsorbents like activated clay or carbon are added under vacuum to remove color pigments, residual soaps, and oxidation products. The oil is filtered using pressure leaf filters and polished filters to ensure clarity and purity.
4. Deodorizing
Deodorization is a steam distillation process conducted under high temperature and vacuum. It removes volatile compounds, off-flavors, and residual free fatty acids. The stripped components are condensed and recovered as fatty acid distillate. This final step yields a bland, stable, and market-ready edible soybean oil.
Why Choose Huanyang’s Soybean Oil Processing Plant?
Huanyang Machinery is a trusted supplier of oil processing equipment, specializing in:
- Customized plant design: From small-scale 1 T/D setups to industrial 1000 T/D facilities.
- End-to-end services: We deliver turnkey projects encompassing design, installation, commissioning, and operator training.
- Advanced technology: Our soybean oil extraction machines and refining systems are energy-efficient, automated, and comply with international standards.
- Expert Support: We provide comprehensive guidance on soybean oil production methods, equipment selection, and market analysis.
Huanyang Machinery is a reliable supplier of soybean oil extraction machine, soybean oil refinery equipment, and complete soybean oil processing plants. With extensive industry experience, we deliver professional technical guidance, customized project solutions, and cost-effective services to help clients establish efficient and profitable soybean oil refinery plants.