Edible oil undergoes various processes to remove impurities and improve its quality, color, and shelf life. Based on the provided information, a key stage in refining involves preparing the oil by heating it and then washing it with water.
The Refining Process Stage
According to the reference, once the oil is clean of substances like gums, traces of soapstock, and other impurities from previous stages, it goes through specific steps:
Heating the Oil
- The oil, which is already free from certain impurities, is pumped through a plate heat exchanger where it is heated by steam.
- This heating prepares the oil for the subsequent washing step, helping to facilitate the removal of water-soluble impurities or residues.
Water Washing
- After being heated, the oil is then sent to the centrifugal mixer to be combined with water.
- Mixing the heated oil with water allows water-soluble components or remaining soap traces to dissolve or become suspended in the water.
- The mixture of oil and water is further centrifuged in a centrifuge for water washing. Centrifugation separates the oil from the wash water containing the impurities, effectively cleaning the oil further.
These steps highlight a critical phase where the oil is heated and washed to purify it before potentially undergoing further treatments like bleaching or deodorization in a complete refining process.
