What is solvent extraction process in soybean oil extraction?
The solvent extraction process is a common method used for soybean oil extraction. The aim is to use a solvent for dissolving a target solute, and wash it out of the solid plant component. The processes involved at this stage are provided below. Soybeans are first cleaned and cracked.
How is soybean oil extracted?
The expanding process involves heating the cleaned soybeans to facilitate soybean oil extraction. This can be achieved through mechanical pressing or by using solvents like hexane. Mechanical pressing involves physically pressing the soybeans to release the oil, while solvent extraction is a more efficient method for large-scale production.
How does cooking affect soybean oil extraction?
Cooking breaks oil cells and eliminates moisture as steam. This aids in lowering the oil’s viscosity while facilitating the oil separation during the extraction process. The expanding process involves heating the cleaned soybeans to facilitate soybean oil extraction. This can be achieved through mechanical pressing or by using solvents like hexane.
How do you extract oil from cracked soybeans?
Soybeans are first cleaned and cracked. This reduces their size and creates maximum surface area for oil extraction. Next, the oil content is dissolved by treating the cracked soybeans with a solvent like hexane. The mixture thus obtained is called miscella and it has oil and solvent along with other impurities.