Technical Advantages and Application Guide of Cold and Hot Press Dual Processes in Palm Oil Refining

Addressing Pain Points in Small and Medium-sized Palm Oil Mills

Small and medium-sized palm oil mills often face a series of challenges, including low oil yield, significant quality fluctuations, and high energy consumption. These issues not only affect the profitability of the mills but also hinder their ability to meet international standards. For instance, some traditional mills may have an oil yield of only around 18%, far below the potential output. The inconsistent quality of the palm oil can lead to difficulties in market competition, especially in emerging markets like Nigeria, where the demand for high - quality palm oil is on the rise.

Technical Principles of Cold and Hot Pressing

Cold pressing is a gentle extraction method carried out at low temperatures, typically below 40°C. This process helps to preserve the natural nutrients and flavors of the palm oil, resulting in a more pure and stable product. However, the oil yield from cold pressing is relatively low, usually around 20 - 22%. On the other hand, hot pressing involves heating the palm fruits to a higher temperature, usually between 80 - 100°C. This increases the fluidity of the oil and breaks down the cell walls more effectively, leading to a higher oil yield, which can reach up to 28 - 30%. But hot pressing may cause some loss of nutrients and an increase in impurities if not properly controlled.

Synergistic Operation of Cold and Hot Pressing

The combination of cold and hot pressing can leverage the advantages of both processes. In the synergistic operation, cold pressing is usually carried out first to obtain a high - quality initial oil. Then, the remaining palm residues are subjected to hot pressing to extract more oil. This way, the overall oil yield can be increased by about 5 - 8% compared to using only one process. The key control points in this process include strict temperature control. For example, during the hot - pressing stage, maintaining the temperature between 85 - 95°C can ensure high oil yield without excessive nutrient loss. In terms of degumming efficiency, adding an appropriate amount of phosphoric acid can increase the degumming rate from about 80% to over 90%.

Parameter Adjustment and Fault Handling

In actual production, parameter adjustment is crucial. For example, adjusting the moisture content of palm fruits before pressing can improve the oil yield. When the moisture content is controlled at around 10 - 12%, the oil yield can be optimized. Regarding common faults, such as the emulsification problem, adding a small amount of salt can break the emulsion and improve the separation efficiency of oil and water. A customer from a Nigerian oil mill reported that after adopting the cold - hot pressing combination process and following the parameter adjustment suggestions, their oil yield increased by 7%, and the quality of the palm oil became more stable.

Compliance with International Standards

The cold - hot pressing combination process is highly beneficial for small and medium - sized oil mills to meet international standards. By improving the quality stability and reducing impurities, the palm oil produced can better meet the requirements of international markets. This not only helps the mills to expand their overseas markets but also reduces the risk of non - compliance.

To learn more about efficient palm oil refining solutions and how the cold - hot pressing combination process can transform your business, click here.