| abstract |
The present invention relates to improved methods for refining vegetable oils and byproducts thereof. This invention also relates to an improved process for deodorizing lecithin. The invention additionally relates to deodorized lecithin and deodorized vegetable oil obtained by improved processes of the invention. In an organic acid refining process, vegetable oil is combined with a dilute aqueous organic acid solution and subjected to high shear to finely disperse the acid solution in the oil. The resulting acid-and-oil mixture is mixed at low shear for a time sufficient to sequester contaminants into a hydrated impurities phase, producing a purified vegetable oil phase. In a lecithin deodorizing process, a phosphatide concentrate is contacted with steam in a dryer operating at a pressure below 50 mm Hg and at a temperature of less than about 150° F. to form lecithin containing no more than about 0.5 percent by weight water. In a vegetable oil deodorizing process, vegetable oil is passed through a deodorizer having at least two trays and operating at a pressure of less than about 10 mm Hg. A first tray of the deodorizer operates at a temperature of about 510° F. and a second tray of deodorizer operates at a temperature of about 450° F. |