Why is n-Hexane used for edible oil extraction?
The conventional technology used for oil extraction from oilseeds is by solvent extraction. In solvent extraction, n-Hexane is used as a solvent for its attributes such as simple recovery, non-polar nature, low latent heat of vaporization (330 kJ/kg) and high selectivity to solvents. Unlike other solvents, hexane has certain properties that make it the ideal choice for oil extraction processes. Hexane can extract more oil from oilseeds compared to ethyl acetate and ether With its low boiling point, hexane can retain its liquid states even in cold climates.
The distillation range of n-Hexane is short, and the volatilization of harmful substances is relatively clean and thorough, so that the nutritional components of vegetable oil are not destroyed by high temperature, which improves the safety of edible oil, reduces the leaching consumption and residue of edible oil in production, has a high oil production rate, and is convenient for industrial scale production. Hexane is an organic solvent with good viscosity. It is usually used in rubber food, pharmaceutical, perfume, shoe making, adhesive tape, ball making, grinding, leather, textile, furniture, paint industries, or dilution, or cleaning solvent, or viscose.
In addition, it can also be used as a solvent for extracting seed oil (such as soybean oil, cottonseed oil, flax oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, etc.); It can also be used as a raw material for manufacturing polymers; Such as polypropylene and polyethylene.
Solvent extraction technology is a continuous edible oil extraction equipment, which uses the solubility of n-Hexane and oil to improve the oil content through soaking and spray. Solvent extraction technology can be used to extract oil from most oilseeds. The high oil content oilseeds such as rapeseed, peanut, cottonseed and sesame are extracted by pre pressing solvent, and the low oil content oilseeds are extracted by direct solvent.
Food grade n-Hexane as solvent for vegetable oil extraction
The main advantage of using n-Hexane as extraction solvent to prepare edible oil is low residual oil. In addition, there are eight advantages:
1. In the detection of the final edible oil products, the sulfur and benzene content in n-Hexane is very low, which is almost impossible to detect, and more in line with the international health detection standards.
2. The distillation range of n-Hexane is 63 ℃ – 71 ℃, and the dissolution rate is small.
3. The recovery temperature of n-Hexane is low and the energy saving effect is obvious. Moreover, it is of great benefit to improve the quality of oil products, and the color will be better. The acid value and peroxide in the oil can be reduced to improve the refining yield.
4. The content of n-Hexane is increased, the extraction capacity is improved, and the processing capacity of the device is also improved.
5. n-Hexane has good compatibility with oil and can reduce the residual oil in the filter cake. Increase the output of oil and improve the efficiency of enterprises.
6. The use of n-Hexane can reduce the drying temperature during the cake recovery process, reduce the direct steam supply, and thus reduce the dust intrusion of the condensation recovery system. Prolong the life cycle of the condenser.
7. Due to the extremely low sulfur content in n-Hexane, the corrosion of the system is reduced and the service life of the equipment is prolonged.
8. Reducing the operating system temperature after using hexane can reduce the reduction crystallization of unstable substances in the plant and improve the utilization rate of the whole system.
It can be seen from the above description that n-Hexane is the best choice in vegetable oil plants, which is also the reason why solvent extraction plants are becoming more and more popular in large vegetable oil production plants.
Hexane and oils work quite well together, which makes hexane an ideal solvent for oil extraction. Oil extraction requires fats to be soluble in a material, and hexane is a great match because it allows the oils to dissolve and separate from the original oilseed plant. The solvent extraction plant is the best solution for the project with a capacity of more than 30 tons / day. Because the residual oil amount is more than 5% for the press method and less than 1% for the solvent extraction method. The crude powder extracted by solvent extraction can be widely used in food raw materials with high protein content and high quality because of its low temperature.
We have the latest equipment and technology for the strict checking of raw material at the initial stage only. We ensure that prior to manufacturing the material is checked on the grounds of quality. As quality is our topmost concern, we give maximum priority to the stringent checking of the entire range of products. Junyuan Petroleum Group provides the food grade hexane for edible oil extraction and for pharma industries.