A sufficient and reliable food supply is one of the most fundamental needs of mankind. Vegetable oils are an important part of this food chain and are considered to be the major source of high-quality protein and other nutrients. Today, there are a large number of vegetable oils available and all of them are extracted from oil-bearing seeds through solvent extraction carried out in a facility provided by the top solvent extraction plant suppliers in India.

Solvent extraction: an introduction

Solvent extraction is an effective, efficient, and reliable method for separating the high protein solids from oil-bearing seeds. Sunflower and canola are the two most significant oils extracted through solvent extraction that offer a very high volume of high-quality protein and other nutrients. Solvent extraction carried out in a facility provided by the leading solvent extraction plant suppliers is a fully chemical-based oil extraction method in which Hexane is the most used chemical.

Why do oil milling units prefer solvent oil extraction to others? 

Almost all the commercial oil milling units around the globe opt for this methodology for oil extraction from oil-bearing seeds that might not involve pressing even a little bit. The hexane-based oil extraction process has been in use for more than 70 years, and currently, it is the most preferred oil extraction process for the following reasons:

  • The solvent extraction process offers around 95% oil yields when compared to other conventional methodologies
  • Through a mechanical oil extraction process, only 60% oil yields can be achieved
  • Solvent extraction method carried out in a facility provided by the top solvent extraction plant suppliers requires lesser efforts during the operations
  • This method also uses less energy and HP and requires minimum maintenance
  • It is relatively efficient and reliable.

As almost all the commercial oil milling units need to produce a huge volume of vegetable oils per day, they prefer the solvent oil extraction methodology to others for the effective and efficient extraction of a large number of vegetable oils.

Solvent Extraction Process

Solvent extraction is achieved in a facility provided by the top solvent extraction plant suppliers through the grinding of seeds. The cake is then washed deeply with a petroleum distillate called Hexane that discharges the oil from the seed. The solvent is then flushed by heating the oil in a sealed chamber. The oil and solvent mixture is then heated up to 100º C to separate the solvent.

The process involves the following steps:

  • The oil-bearing seeds are prepared for extraction through deep washing and properly drying
  • Food-grade solvent is used to extract the oil
  • The toasting of the de-oiled seeds is carried out through drying and cooling
  • The distillation process is carried out to distill off the solvent from the achieved oil
  • Solvent recovery is done for its reuse again and again at the extractor level.

Concluding Remarks 

MacTech is one of the top solvent extraction plant suppliers in India with a presence within the industry for more than 45 years. The company also manufactures customized plant and machinery, and turnkey projects for the Oil and Fats Industry. Some other projects manufactured by the company include Solvent Extraction Plant, Oil Processing Plant, Bio Diesel & Filters, and Edible Oil Refinery Plant.