GB670971A - A method and apparatus for refining vegetable and animal oils - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0670971/III/1> <PICT:0670971/III/2> In the continuous refining of fatty oils with lye wherein the lye is intermixed in the oil in the form of fine droplets, the neutralizing of the oil globules and the agglomeration of the formed soap is completed in a chamber without substantial agitation and without substantial atomizing of the droplets, and the soap is removed from the oil by centrifuging in a centrifugal separator, the centrifugal separator is of the type in which the rotating parts are entirely filled with liquid. The process reduces the amount of emulsified oil in the soap resulting from the more usual processes employing agitation of the mixed liquids. The oil and lye may be preheated before mixing or the mixture is heated between the reaction vessel and the centrifugal separator so as to aid the agglomeration of the soap drops. The centrifugal separator is of the hermetic type in which the bowl is entirely filled with liquid since with such separators the liquid is fed thereto without shock. In a suitable plant, the mixer consists of a rapidly rotating wheel A enclosed in a housing having inlet nozzles B and C, for the oil and lye respectively, arranged to direct jets of the liquids against the surface of the wheel so as to divide the lye into droplets which are suspended in the oil. The liquid mixture is then discharged through an outlet F to the reaction chamber D, in which substantial agitation is avoided, and from thence to the centrifugal separator E of the above type. The refining of coprah oil is exemplified. Specification 417,996 is referred to.