Continuous Bleaching

Today we use a continuous bleaching process apart from special applications and minor processing quantities. This is used for:

  • Bleaching degummed oil prior to physical neutralization and deodorization,
  • Bleaching wet-degummed and chemically neutralized oil prior to deodorization,
  • Post-refining of hydrogenated and chemically interesterified oils and fats.

In this process a pre-defined quantity of bleaching earth (adsorbent natural or activated earth, mixed with activated carbon if necessary) is continuously added to the oil.
This process is specially characterized by the loop reactor enabling operation without the agitator tanks.

As well as simultaneous intensive mixture and contact of the bleaching earth with the oil. The bleaching earth is filtrated following reaction period. In addition to the common target of lightening the oil color the bleaching process also meets numerous requirements: The bleaching earth adsorbs color pigments as well as oxidation-supporting metal ions, complex compounds, residual soaps and similar substances such as traces of catalyst from hydrogenation. Furthermore, it serves as a filter for impurities and for gums precipitated by acid in dry degumming. The benefits of the continuous bleaching process are:
  • Enhanced product quality, bleaching under vacuum, gentle heating through optimized temperature control, intensive decoloration of the oil,
  • Increased efficiency, optimized utilization of the bleaching earth through intensive reaction of the mixture during circulation in the loop reactor, convenient operation and maintenance
  • Through sturdy flow and level control, easy filter emptying, degree of automation according to the customer’s requirements, energy efficiency through additional heat recovery, higher wear resistance through high quality materials (e.g. special pump seals).