Construction of pilot line for physical refining and deodorizing of vegetable oils under vacuum by purging with helium gas

The project proposition is for construction of pilot line for physical refining and deodorizing of vegetable oils, with which the distillation under vacuum of the free fatty acids, the taste and odor substances of the oils, is done by purging of re-circulating helium gas. The base of the innovative project is a patent of Method for distillation under vacuum of odor and taste substances from sunflower oil with inert gas, published in Bulletin. Nine section N C of Two thousand and sixteen. Of the Bulgarian patent office. Until now in the world practice of deodorization as inert gas only nitrogen was used, which is comparatively cheap gas. The result of its use is lower losses (no hydrolysis will occur in the oil), and also to a higher quality of distillation. However, in industrial practice the nitrogen is not used, because it is non-condensing gas and make the necessary vacuum system much more expensive, that the use of steam that is condensing. Furthermore, after purge the gas is released into the atmosphere. The method of distillation under vacuum of odor and taste substances from sunflower oil with re-circulation of inert gas provides the ability to physically refine and deodorize vegetable oils, with inert gasses with low molecular weights, and achieving competitive price with regard to steam deodorization is done by their reuse. The temperature of processes using this method may be lower than that of the processes with superheated steam, with the aim to preserve the antioxidants and other useful elements in the oils. The pilot line is on the base of semi continuous deodorizer. The choice is based on the low capital costs for its development and production, the higher flexibility upon use (the technological parameters can be easily adjusted in accordance to the incoming oil quality), and taking into account the research element (parameters’ justification) and the minimum mixing between two consecutive batches (tests on various vegetable oils).

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