From pressing to refined oil: adding profitable edible oil refining lines to your current facility

If your factory already has oil pressing equipment but faces low profits from crude oil processing and limited added value, or if you want to enter the refined oil market without a clear idea, you’re not alone. Henan Glory Company can help you identify the profit potential of adding a refining line and outline a feasible implementation plan.

First, the crude oil produced by your factory typically contains impurities such as free fatty acids and phospholipids. These impurities reduce the oil’s stability and limit its market premium, confining the crude oil to the low-value primary processing sector. To address this issue, you don’t need to rebuild your existing pressing system—you only need to add a compatible refining line to upgrade edible oil pressing line.

Edible oil refining machine

In the refining process, the first key step is degumming. Its core goal is to remove phospholipids (gums) from the crude oil—any residual gums, if left untreated, will harm the oil’s stability in subsequent steps and may cause precipitation, reducing product quality. Two degumming methods for edible oil refining equipment are available, depending on the gum content in the crude oil. For crude oil with low gum content, the oil is mixed with water to separate the gums, which are then removed via centrifugation. For crude oil with high gum content, you can add acid to the degumming tank to separate the gums from the oil.

After degumming, residual free fatty acids will cause the oil to become rancid and develop a sour taste, meaning the oil fails to meet food-grade standards. In the neutralization tank, caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) is added to react with the free fatty acids, forming separatable soap stock and reducing the oil’s acidity. The separated soap stock boasts high purity and is suitable for recycling—for example, in soap production or feed processing. After neutralization, the oil’s acidity drops significantly, improving the oil’s stability—this reduces the risk of spoilage during storage and transportation and makes the oil suitable for cooking and frying.

Furthermore, consumers first judge edible oil by its appearance, but pigments in crude oil (e.g., carotenoids) create a dark yellow hue, which conflicts with consumer preferences. In the decolorization tank, unwanted pigments are removed by mixing adsorbents (e.g., activated clay) with the heated oil. Then, a plate filter is used to separate the adsorbents and residues, yielding in clear oil.

Different types of edible oil refining machines

Additionally, a deodorization tank enhances the oil’s flavor and usability. Some crude oils have inherent odors or generate volatile compounds during processing, limiting their use in high-end applications that require a neutral flavor. This tank removes odors using high-temperature steam in a vacuum, producing oil with a neutral flavor.

To tap into additional market value, you can add fractionation equipment. It leverages differences in melting points between the oil’s components: you control the cooling temperature to separate the refined oil into liquid oil (e.g., palm olein) and solid fat (e.g., palm stearin). Liquid oils are suitable for use as mid-to-high-end cooking oils, while solid fats are used in the production of shortening, margarine, or as industrial raw materials.

Henan Glory Company provides customized edible oil refining equipment based on your crude oil type, production capacity, and target market, along with end-to-end support ranging from consultation to installation—all to help you smoothly achieve profits of adding edible oil refining line. Please feel free to contact us!