Oil Extraction

AbstractThe crude oil used as a feedstock for the various oil refining and oil modification processes discussed throughout this book are derived from such oleaginous materials as soybean, rapeseed, sunflower seeds, cottonseeds, corn germ, ground nuts, olives, and palm fruits. This chapter discusses the evolution of the oil extraction process from hand press extraction, to early mechanized extraction, to hydraulic press extraction, to the processes of screw press extraction and solvent extraction commonly used today. Before an oleaginous material is extracted, it must first be carefully prepared for the extraction process. The seed preparation steps include cleaning, drying, size reduction, hull removal, heating/drying, flaking, and extruding. Oil can be extracted from a prepared material by either mechanical extraction or solvent extraction methods. The three types of mechanical extraction methods are palm fruit pressing, full pressing, and prepressing. Solvent extraction is the most common process used to extract oil today. The solvent extraction process includes the unit operations of oil extraction, meal desolventizing, meal drying and cooling, miscella distillation, and solvent recovery.