Everyone uses some sort of oil during their day, whether they are rustling up a quick dinner, applying lipstick, or greasing a rusty bolt. But have you ever wondered the fascinating story behind how that oil or oil-based product came to you? If you didn't know this already, all products that we consume are processed to some extent. The same is true for all oils as well. Today, we will look at a few key things you need to know about oils and oil processes. Enjoy!
Why Are Oils Processed?
Oils, whether they are for domestic purposes or industrial purposes, are processed for a number of reasons. These are just some of the few:
Refining and Blending
Crude oil comes with various inherent impurities. It is important to remove them, due to which oil is refined under pressure, using a fractional distillation process or others. This makes the oil pure. Moreover, certain oils are deficient in certain nutrients, which is why they are blended for nutrition purposes.
Oil Derivatives
Industrial oils are mostly processed to derive some other compound that has higher or varying utility. Thus, processes like saponification and hydrogenation are introduced so the formulation can be changed and its qualities altered.
What Are Some Oil Processing Methods?
These are a couple of specialised oil processing methods that are gaining traction in industrial use:
Interesterification Process
Interesterification, or the IE process, is an alternative process to conventional hydrogenation. During hydrogenation, the chemical structure of the oil is altered, whereas in the IE process, this remains unchanged, which is considered to be better as it preserves the original nutritional value and health attributes.
RCO Process
The RCO process is a process by which oils are reconstituted into other derivatives and forms. The RCO process is best when carried out on an industrial scale. It helps in the formation of oil compounds and derivatives that are naturally absent. Several vegetable oils can be processed with this formulation to derive more useful products for a variety of industries.
Conclusion
As an industry, edible and industrial oils and fats have a high chance of sustaining the ups and downs of the market. Fats have naturally been a part of human existence ever since the invention of fire, and they are not going anywhere. If you are looking to put a step in the non-combustible oils segment, chances are you will need a plant with the proper machinery and fractional distillation process capabilities. Contact Mectech today for the highest standard of service and quality!
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