dewaxing

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What is Dewaxing Plant?

The dewaxing process is a crucial step in the refining of vegetable oils and fats, especially those intended for use in food products where clarity and stability at lower temperatures are essential. Dewaxing removes waxes, which are natural components found in oils such as sunflower, corn, and rice bran oils. These waxes can cause cloudiness or haziness in the oil when it is cooled or stored for a longer period, affecting its appearance and stability.

Refinery plants designed by manufacturers like Muez Hest incorporate advanced technology and customized solutions to ensure the dewaxing process is efficient, reliable, and energy-efficient, ultimately delivering high-quality refined oil to consumers with lower losses of oil in wax. Typically, oil becomes cloudy within 5–6 hours, but with proper dewaxing, it remains clear after 24 hours of storage at 0˚C.

Process

Process of Dewaxing Plant

The dewaxing process in an oil refinery plant is essential for removing waxes from edible oils to improve their clarity and stability, especially in colder temperatures. Here’s an overview of the dewaxing process designed for the oil refinery industry:

Dewaxing Crystallization Process

Step 1

Cooling and Crystallization

The process begins with cooling the liquid mixture (such as oils) to a temperature where waxes and other solid compounds start to crystallize or solidify. This temperature is typically below the melting point of the liquid, allowing the solid components to precipitate out.

Step 2

Nucleation and Crystal Growth

As the cooling continues, nucleation sites within the liquid encourage the formation of small crystals of waxes or other solids. These crystals grow over time as more solid molecules join the existing crystals.

Step 3

Agitation

Mechanical agitation or stirring is applied to promote nucleation and ensure uniform crystal growth. This helps in achieving a consistent product quality.

Step 4

Maturation

After sufficient crystal growth, the mixture is allowed to mature or settle, giving enough time for the crystals to form and grow to a desirable size. This step is crucial for maximizing the yield of solid crystals.

Dewaxing Filtration Process

Step 1

Filtration

Once the crystallization is complete, the matured oil, now containing solidified wax crystals, is passed through advanced filtration systems such as Plate & Frame Filters or Miura Super Filters. These filters effectively remove the precipitated waxes from the oil, resulting in a clear and refined final product

Step 2

Filtration can be achieved through various methods

Gravity Filtration: Involves passing the mixture through a filter medium under the influence of gravity. The solid crystals are retained on the filter while the liquid passes through.

Pressure Filtration: Applies pressure to force the liquid through the filter, useful for thicker mixtures or where a high filtration rate is required.