31a.1 Introduction

Oils are organic molecule of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and sometimes nitrogen and sulfur. It is composed of long chain fatty acids and esters (glyceride ester) as well as derivative of glycerine, long chain fatty alcohol, sulfate and sulfonates. Oils like caster oil, linseed oil are non edible and oils like ground nut oil, coconut oil are edible .

Oil is used in producing vanaspati ghee, soaps and detergents, cosmetics, medicines, polymers, paints and varnishes and in many other applications.

 

31a.2 Vegetable oil extraction

Raw material : Seeds of oilseed plant

Process flow sheet: Illustrated in Figure

Figure 31.1 Flow sheet of vegetable oil extraction