Method for degumming vegetable oil
First Claim
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1. A method for degumming an oil comprising:
- a. mixing oil containing phospholipids with a reagent to form a pre-treated oil mixture;
b. passing the pre-treated oil mixture through a hydrodynamic cavitation device to form a field of hydrodynamic cavitation bubbles in the pre-treated oil mixture for reacting the phospholipids in the oil with the reagent, the pre-treated oil mixture being subjected to the field of hydrodynamic cavitation bubbles for residence time of less than 10×
10−
5 seconds;
wherein the reacted phospholipids remain in the oil of the pre-treated oil mixture such that the reacted phospholipids are not transferred to a water phase portion of the pre-treated oil mixture;
c. collapsing the hydrodynamic cavitation bubbles to form a processed oil mixture; and
d. directing the processed oil mixture to a mass transfer, non-cavitational reactor, the reacted phospholipids being transferred from an oil phase in the processed oil mixture to a water phase in the processed oil mixture.
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Abstract
A hydrodynamic cavitation method for degumming triglyceride oil is used to increase oil yield and reduce impurities. The residence time of the oil for degumming in the cavitation field is reduced to enhance removal of impurities such as phosphorus without prolonged exposure of the oil to cavitation conditions. The mass transfer of impurities from an oil phase to non-oil components or water is carried out in a non-cavitational, mass transfer reactor positioned downstream of a hydrodynamic cavitation device. A separation step can be used to remove the phosphatides and other impurities from the treated oil to form a purified oil product.
15 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for degumming an oil comprising:
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a. mixing oil containing phospholipids with a reagent to form a pre-treated oil mixture; b. passing the pre-treated oil mixture through a hydrodynamic cavitation device to form a field of hydrodynamic cavitation bubbles in the pre-treated oil mixture for reacting the phospholipids in the oil with the reagent, the pre-treated oil mixture being subjected to the field of hydrodynamic cavitation bubbles for residence time of less than 10×
10−
5 seconds;
wherein the reacted phospholipids remain in the oil of the pre-treated oil mixture such that the reacted phospholipids are not transferred to a water phase portion of the pre-treated oil mixture;c. collapsing the hydrodynamic cavitation bubbles to form a processed oil mixture; and d. directing the processed oil mixture to a mass transfer, non-cavitational reactor, the reacted phospholipids being transferred from an oil phase in the processed oil mixture to a water phase in the processed oil mixture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for degumming an oil comprising:
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a. mixing a vegetable oil containing phospholipids with a aqueous acid solution to form a pre-treated oil mixture comprising a water phase and an oil phase; b. passing the pre-treated oil mixture through a local constriction in a cavitation device to form a field of hydrodynamic cavitation bubbles in the pre-treated oil mixture such that the phospholipids in the oil phase react with the aqueous acid solution, the pre-treated oil mixture being subjected to the field of hydrodynamic cavitation bubbles for residence time of less than 10×
10−
5 seconds;
wherein the reacted phospholipids in the field of hydrodynamic cavitation bubbles remain in the oil phase of the pre-treated oil mixture;c. collapsing the hydrodynamic cavitation bubbles to form a processed oil mixture; d. directing the processed oil mixture to a mass transfer, non-cavitational reactor, the reacted phospholipids being transferred from an oil phase in the processed oil mixture to a water phase in the processed oil mixture within the mass transfer, non-cavitational reactor; and e. separating the water phase from the oil phase in the processed oil mixture to form a purified oil, wherein the purified oil contains less than 2 ppm of phosphorus. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification