• What is a Physical refining process?
  • In general, physical refining includes the following three main processing steps: Sometimes the dewaxing process is added for types of oils rich in waxes (e.g., fatty acids with low solubility in oils and high-melting esters of fatty alcohols), such as corn, rice bran, canola, and sunflower oils .
  • What is crude oil refining?
  • Treatment that eliminates undesirable and toxic components in crude oils is known as ¡°refining¡± . Refining is practically mandatory for crude oils that cannot be consumed as virgin oils to provide a product with an attractive appearance, a neutral taste, and more resistance to oxidation.
  • Does refining affect the safety of refined oils?
  • These can directly influence the safety level of refined oils. Several studies were devoted to determining the effects of refining on the minor bioactive components such as sterols and tocopherols. Indeed, Verh¨¦ et al. , who found a sterols loss of 10¨C32% (physical refining) and 13¨C31% (chemical refining).
  • What are the benefits of chemical and Physical refining?
  • The objective of such treatments (chemical and physical refining) is to get a better quality, a more acceptable aspect (limpidity), a lighter odor and color, longer stability, and good safety through the elimination of pollutants while minimizing oil loss during processing.
  • What is the difference between chemical and Physical refining?
  • The difference between chemical and physical refining is illustrated in Figure 2. Chemical refining consists of removing free fatty acids by adding caustic soda and separating the soap by centrifugation (mechanical separation) , while physical refining, in the last step, removes free fatty acids and other compounds by steam distillation.
  • Why is degumming important in vegetable oil refining?
  • Degumming is a crucial step in the refining process of vegetable oils . It allows the elimination of ¡°gums¡± or ¡°mucilage,¡± composed mainly of phospholipids from the crude oil as well as compounds such as carbohydrates, proteins, and trace of metals [9, 34]. Phospholipids or phosphatides are naturally present in oils.