Seed Fats and Oils
In a joint research program with a partner, GEA Westfalia Separator has developed the Westfalia Separator® friolex process for obtaining oil. This patented process enables high quality oil or fat to be obtained directly and efficiently from vegetable and animal raw materials containing oils, where the non-oil phase (e.g. proteins) remain “native”. Environmentally harmful solvent extraction is not necessary for this. Instead, an aqueous separation medium which is completely safe in terms of food regulations is used. The oil is separated from the raw material slurry by a special decanter. Residual contaminants are separated in a second stage with the aid of a separator.
Westfalia Separator friolex process for all raw materials containing oil
Obtaining oil by centrifuge with Westfalia Separator® friolex is a completely new approach. It uses an aqueous base, not hexane, to extract by displacement. In the form of a slurry, the fruit flesh is separated into an oil fraction and pulp in a specially-developed decanter centrifuge. This is only possible if there is no emulsion between the oil and the aqueous phase. With most natural raw materials such as seeds, fish or eggs, however, this emulsion is the case. In order to break this emulsion, therefore, aqueous alcohol is added, not as a solvent for extraction, but as a purely physical aid to break the emulsion. This simple method enables a clear distinction to be made between the oil phase and the solids slurry.
There is a further advantage to this: unlike pressing, for example, Westfalia Separator® friolex only separates components which are purely soluble in oil with the oil phase. This renders the usual subsequent degumming step redundant. The oil is simply dried and subsequently polished in a high-performance separator. The solids are also dried. Water and the alcohol agent are returned to the cycle and the oil-free solids are available for further applications – protein recovery, for example.
Gas blanket prevents oil oxidation
The entire Westfalia Separator® friolex process has a nitrogen blanket. This ensures protection for operating in an alcoholic environment and has a positive impact on product quality. Any oxidation of oil is avoided. So-called PUFA oils with valuable polyunsaturated fatty acids are preserved, as are vitamins.
Processing is performed gently at low temperatures. Refining steps such as bleaching or deodorizing are superfluous, reliably preventing product damage, for example the formation of trans fatty acids. The proportion of phosphatides in the oil is significantly reduced.
What is more, Westfalia Separator® friolex is a closed process loop. The water produced and the alcohol are both “recycled” and returned to the initial stage. The solids containing valuable substances can be dried in a direct process to create oil-free powder for foods. The by-products can also be sold as foods, fertilizers and animal feeds. No waste products or emissions are created.
Westfalia Separator friolex is suitable for all raw materials containing oil –
the following are by way of example:
Seed oils
- Abyssinian mustard
- Borage
- Camelina sativa
- Cocoa
- Coriander
- Evening primrose
- Fruit pips
- Grape pips
- Grapefruit pips
- Hemp
- High oleic (sunflower)
- Kiwi pips
- Linseed
- Melon seeds
- Neem seed
- Opium poppy
- Pumpkin seeds
- Rapeseed
- Rose hips
- Spurge
- Yellow mustard
Nut oils
- Almond kernels
- Brazil nuts
- Cashew nut kernels
- Cashew nut shells
- Cembra nut
- Hazelnut
- Peanut
- Physic nut
- Shea butter nut
- Walnut
Miscellaneous
- Apple peel (waxes)
- Castor oil plant
- Cod liver
- Egg yolk
- Hops
- Jojoba
- Salmon
- Soy
- Wheatgerm