Dewaxing of Vegetable Oils: Introduction, and its Influence on the Resultant Oil

Posted by Vimal Kumar on September 1st, 2021

Dewaxing of vegetable oil is the 5th process among the complete cycles of processes that are carried out to refine the vegetable oils. Dewaxing is not a compulsory process and is executed only in the case of oils that contain very high wax content. These oils include rice bran oil, sunflower oil, and corn oil, etc. Dewaxing stands fifth in the following processes carried out in oil vegetable oil refineries:

1. Degumming Process
2. Neutralization Process
3. Bleaching Process
4. Deodorization Process
5. Dewaxing Process
6. Dry Fractionation System.

The plants and facilities provided by the manufacturers of oil milling solutions and lecithin plant with scrapper type heat exchanger are incorporated with specially designed and developed crystallizing tools and equipment that aim at slow cooling with constant agitation so that a better heat transfer can be ensured during the process. Dewaxing is also known as winterization. During winters when the temperatures are extremely low, the waxy contents in the oil get crystallized while giving a hazy appearance to the oil. 

Wax makes oils thicker and affects their commercial viability 

Some waxes are dissolvable in the oils and that’s why some oils are dewaxed before they are packed and shipped. As said earlier also all oils don’t need to be dewaxed because they either have less quality of wax in them or even nothing. Only the oils that fall under the category of SFO and RBO are known to contain a heavy amount of wax. The presence of wax in the oils not only makes them appear hazy but also makes them thicker affecting the commercial viability and as well as market acceptance. It happens because of the precipitation of dissolved waxes.

How dewaxing influences the vegetable oils 

Dewaxing of vegetable oil even though not performed on all oils in a facility provided by the manufacturers of oil milling solutions and lecithin plant with scrapper type heat exchanger is an important process carried out to refine the SFO and RBO category of vegetable oils. After these vegetable oils are dewaxed, they remain transparent at room temperature making it possible for the manufacturers to pack the oil in transparent pouches and containers. This way, their appearance becomes attractive, and marketability increases.  

An effective and efficient dewaxing process is also associated with the thickness level and fatty molecular structure of the vegetable oils. Without dewaxing, they might have more unsaturated fats in them which these days are considered to be very unhealthy for human beings. 

Concluding Remarks 

Mectech is one of the leading companies in India offering the facilities for dewaxing of vegetable oil as well as lecithin plant with scrapper type heat exchanger. The company has been a technology partner of the world’s leading oil milling units and meeting their specific needs. Some of the plants manufactured and supplied by the company include palm oil processing plant, refining of rice bran oil, sunflower oil refining plant, soybean oil refining plant, corn oil refining, double scrubbing, castor oil derivatives plant, groundnut oil refining plant, hazelnut oil refining, and refining of canola oil.