WO2023151731A1

WO2023151731A1 - A method for oilseed processing and equipment for oilseed processing

Info

Publication number: WO2023151731A1
Application number: PCT/CZ2023/000005
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michal Kaválek; Martin Dostál
Original assignee: Farmet A.S.
Priority date: 2022-02-11
Filing date: 2023-02-06
Publication date: 2023-08-17
Also published as: CZ202267A3; CZ309573B6

Abstract

A method of processing oilseeds, in particular a method of processing oilseeds leading to obtaining oil from these seeds, according to which the surface of the seeds is first exposed in the means (1) for exposing the oilseeds to the action of water, and/or water vapour, by the action of water, and/or water vapour, with water and/or water vapour entering the seeds, and then the seeds being pressed in an oilseed press (4), separating the oil from the seeds. Equipment for the processing of oilseeds, in particular equipment for the processing of oilseeds resulting in obtaining oil from these seeds, which includes the means (1) for exposing the oil seeds to water and/or water vapour, which is connected to the oilseed pressing device (4).

Description

A method for oilseed processing and equipment for oilseed processing

Technical Field

The invention relates to a method and equipment for the processing of oilseeds, specifically to the processing of oilseeds, which leads to obtaining oil from these seeds.

State of the Art

At present, a large number of methods of processing oilseeds for obtaining oii from these seeds are known.

From patent document CS12712 is disclosed a method of extracting oils and fats from oleaginous vegetable substances by the combined effect of a solvent and pressure, according to which this extraction is carried out by a single extrusion of about 9/10 of the oil or fat content of vegetable substances using a pressure of less than 10 kg/cm², with these substances being mixed with a solvent in an amount less than 60% of the amount of solvent commonly used in extraction methods, and the supply of the substance is stopped before dissolution in the free solvent occurs, this extraction being carried out at a temperature varying from 30 to 75° depending on the solvent. The disadvantage of this method is that it is not ecological, while it leads to obtaining oils and fats that are usable only in industry and are not usable in food production.

From patent application CZ PV1998-3939 is known a method of producing vegetable oii by pressing oilseeds and filtering the obtained crude oil, according to which the oilseeds are pressed in at least one low-pressure and at least one high- pressure pressing unit with different pressing characteristics, and the obtained oil with different phosphorus content is, after filtration, blended to obtain a crude oil with a phosphorus content of less than 400 ppm and greater than 90 ppm. The oil thus obtained is again usable only in industry.

From a further patent document CS199603 is known a method of obtaining oii from vegetable raw materials with an oii content of over 25%, especially from rapeseed, sunflower seed kernels, copra and groundnuts, with these raw materials being subjected to preliminary cleaning, or preliminary crushing and grinding by one or more rollers , and being wetted and dried with a solvent before the oil is extracted. Next, the ground raw material is moistened and mixed with 1 to 10 wt% liquid, especially water or aqueous solutions, and dried to an optimal moisture content, depending on the type of raw material used, between 4 and 15%, in a stream of gas, especially air, with a temperature of 50 to 150 °C, before it is extracted with a solvent. The disadvantages of this method are the same as in the previous patent documents.

From current technology, screw pressing of oilseeds has been known for a long time. It is known, for example, from patent document US647354. The fibre contained mainly in the husks forms drainage in the screw pressing process and thus allows the oil to drain through the drain gaps in the chamber of the screw press after the seeds have been pressed. With a lack of fibre in the seed, there is no oil flow and the press stops conveying material and fails. Some oilseeds are low in fibre and high in fat and therefore cannot be pressed without pretreatment. Examples include fully hulled sunflower seeds, shell-less varieties of pumpkin, pecans, hazelnuts, cashews, Brazil nuts and walnuts, and other nuts that are high in oil or fat and low in fibre. Methods for preventing the failure of the press are known from current technology. For example, it is possible to add fibre in the form of husks from other oilseeds or wheat bran to the pressed oilseeds. Furthermore, it is possible to heat the seeds io a high temperature, which causes the oil to be released at a lower pressure. If, in addition to vegetable oil, the main output raw material is also vegetable pomace as a valuable source of vegetable protein, both of the aforementioned processing methods are disadvantageous. The addition of fibre proportionally reduces the protein content in the pomace. Preheating oilseeds negatively affects the digestibility of prateins due to the formation of Maillard reactions, which occur at high temperatures in the conditioner and within the press.

From the aforementioned, it is clear that there are a number of disadvantages of the current state of technology, the most prominent of which appears to be the lack of an environmentally friendly, simple, and inexpensive method of extracting oils and fats from oilseeds, especially from low-fibre oilseeds.

The aim of the invention is to establish a method of processing oilseeds, which will enable simple, cheap and at the same time productive production of oil or fat, without the loss of their biological and nutritional values. Principle of the Invention

The stated shortcomings are largely eliminated and the objectives of the invention are fulfilled by a method of processing oilseeds, specifically the method of precessing oilseeds leading to obtaining oil from these seeds, according to the invention, characterised by that firstly the surface of the seeds is exposed in a means for exposing the oilseeds to water and/or water vapour, whereas by the action of the water, and/or water vapour, the water, and/or water vapour enters the seeds, and subsequently the seeds are pressed in an oilseed press, whereby the oil is separated from the seeds. To advantage, exposure to water and/or steam softens the seeds and disrupts the oil droplets within their cells, forcing the oil out of the cells. A seed treated in this way releases the oil from the cells much more easily in subsequent pressing.

It is to advantage when the water content of oilseeds is increased by at least 1 wt% water.

Furthermore, it is to great advantage if the water and/or water vapour contains enzymes, which can be, for example, beta-glucanase, xylanase or pectinase. The advantage of adding enzyme solutions is that the enzymes make the disruption of cell structures more efficient, making it even easier to release the oil from the cells.

It is most advantageous, depending on the type of seed, when the seeds contain after the action of water and/or water vapour, an increased water content of 6 to 18 wt% water.

To advantage, the seeds are retained for at least 20 minutes in the holding device prior to pressing in the oil seed pressing device. The advantage is that the water can evenly get into the entire volume of the seeds.

According to the first variant, it is advantageous when the surface of the seeds, in the means for exposing the oilseeds to the action of water and/or water vapour, is exposed to the action of water and/or water vapour, in such a way that the water and/or water vapour is sprayed continuously onto the seeds. The advantage is the possibility of productive processing a large quantity of oil seeds.

According to the second variant, it is advantageous when the surface of the seeds is exposed to the action of water and/or water vapour in the means for exposing the oilseeds to the action of water and/or water vapour, in such a way that the seeds are mixed with water in batches in a ratio of 88 to 99 wt% seeds and 1 to 12 wt%. water. The advantage is that this option makes it possible to process small amounts of oilseeds very economically.

It is also to advantage If the skins are first removed from the surface of the seeds before exposure to water and/or water vapour on the surface of the seeds. The advantage is that the resulting products are oil or fat and pomace with a high protein content (usually above 50 wt%) which significantly increases the selling price of this product.

Furthermore, the mentioned disadvantages are largely removed and the objectives of the invention are fulfilled by a device for processing oilseeds, specifically by the device for processing oilseeds leading to the recovery of oil and pomace from these seeds, according to the above-mentioned method, according to the invention, which is characterised by that it contains a means for exposing the oilseeds to water and/or water vapour, which is connected to the oilseed pressing device.

It is to advantage when a retention device is arranged between the means for exposing the oilseeds to the action of water and/or water vapour and the oilseed pressing device, which allows a sufficient retention time for the action of water vapour/water (or a solution with enzymes) on the cell structure of the seeds leading to oil droplets being displaced from the cells. The retaining device can be a hopper or, for example, a sufficiently long conveyor.

Furthermore, it is to advantage if a conveyor is arranged between the retention device and the oilseed pressing device, which transports the seeds to the screw press.

It is to advantage when the means for exposing the oilseeds to water and/or water vapour is a mixing conveyor that evenly mixes the water/condensed vapour/enzyme solution onto the surface of the seeds.

It Is to great advantage if the oilseed pressing device is a screw press. The advantage is that the screw press enables gentle and at the same time highly productive processing of oilseeds.

Furthermore, it is to great advantage if the screw press contains heated components that are in contact with the pressed oilseeds. These components of the press, such as the shaft, chamber and slats, are heated by a heat-carrying medium, which can be, for example, heated water, steam or thermal oil. The advantage of using heated components is that they eliminate the worsening of oil separation from the seeds, which occurs because the wet seeds generate a minimal amount of frictional heat and cool the working unit of the press. It is also to advantage if the conveyor arranged between the retaining device and the oilseed pressing device is a screw conveyor.

The main advantage of the solution according to the invention is that the entire processing of oilseeds takes place without preheating and without the addition of fibre, which means cheap production of oil or fat, which is also highly productive, along with the fact that the final product is produced practically without losing its biological and nutritional values . The method and device according to the invention are especially very advantageous for the processing of oilseeds with a low fibre content. The advantage of the device and method according to the invention is also that after spraying water and/or water vapour on oilseeds with low water content, which will soak into the oilseeds after a certain time, the structure of the oilseeds will change, which can readily be simply processed in a screw press.

Overview of the Figures

The invention will be further elucidated using drawings, in which fig-1 shows schematically the arrangement of the individual parts of the equipment for the processing of oilseeds.

Examples of the Performance of the Invention

Example 1

Oilseeds, which are sunflower seeds, are first hulled. Nuts with a high oil content and low fibre content can also be oilseeds.

The surface of cleanly shelled sunflower seeds, which contain 2 to 8 wt% of water, is firstly exposed, in the means 1 for exposing oilseeds to water and water vapour, which is a mixing conveyor, to water and water vapour, the water and water vapour being sprayed onto the seeds, penetrating the seeds so that the seeds at the end of this process contain 3 to 18 wt% water. Alternatively, the surface of cleanly hulled sunflower seeds can only be exposed to water vapour. In both variants, the water and/or water vapour contain a solution with an enzyme, which is beta-glucanase.

The surface of the seeds is. in the means 1 for exposing the oilseeds to the action of water and/or water vapour, exposed to the action of water and water vapour, in such a way that water and water vapour are continuously sprayed onto the seeds. From the mixing conveyor, the seeds enter directly into the retaining device 2, which is a tank, in which they are held for 20 minutes.

Further, the seeds are continuously transported by the conveyor 3, which is a screw conveyor, into the hopper of the oilseed pressing device 4, which is a screw press.

Subsequently, the seeds are pressed in a oilseed press 4, where the oil is separated from the seeds.

The oilseed processing device (fig. 1 ) contains means 1 for exposing oilseeds to water and water vapour, which is a mixing conveyor.

The means 1 for exposing the oilseeds to water and/or water vapour is connected to the retaining device 2, which is connected to the screw' conveyor 3.

The end of the screw conveyor 3 is located above the hopper of the oilseed pressing device 4, which is a screw' press. The components of the screw press that are in contact with the pressed oilseeds are heated, The screw press has a specially modified screw geometry for pressing oilseeds, so that the seeds are continuously pressed.

The screw press is further connected to a collection container of pressed oil, not shown, and to a means for the outlet of pomace from the pressing process.

This single-pressed pomace still contains 20 to 40% oil, and it Is possible to subsequently press it in a second stage of pressing, or to extract the remaining oil by solvent extraction (e.g. with hexane).

Example 2

Oilseeds such as walnuts, pecans, Brazil nuts, or other highly oily nuts are first shelie.

The surface of cleanly shelled nuts, which contain 2 to 8 wt% of water, is first exposed, in the means 1 for exposing the oilseeds to the action of water, which is a mixing vessel, to the action of water so that the nuts are manually mixed with water in a ratio of 88 to 99 wt% nuts and 1 to 12 wt% of water, with the water penetrating the seeds so that the seeds at the end of this process contain 6 to 16 wt%. water.

Next, the nuts are left for 160 minutes in the mixing container, which thus fulfils the role of retaining device 2. Subsequently, the nuts are poured into the hopper of the oilseed pressing device 4, which is a screw press in which the nuts are pressed, while the oil is separated from the seeds.

The non-ihiustrated device for processing oilseeds contains a means 1_ for exposing the oilseeds to water, which is a mixing vessel, which subsequently also performs the function of a retention device 2.

The equipment also includes an oilseed pressing device 4, which is a screw press with a hopper,

The screw press is further connected to a collection container of pressed oil, not shown, and to means for the outlet of pomace from the pressing process. The components of the screw press that are in contact with the pressed oilseeds are heated. The screw press has a specially modified screw geometry for pressing oilseeds, so that the seeds are continuously pressed.

Example 3

Low-fibre oilseeds that are sunflower seeds are first mechanically broken and mixed with a solution of water and an enzyme mixture (30% solution and 70% seeds), which is a mixture of beta-glucanase, xylanase and pectinase. The solution is mixed to contain 0.1 -3% of the enzyme to the weight of the seeds. The mixture of seeds and water solution and enzyme mixture is allowed to stabilise at a temperature of 45 to 50 °C for 8 hours, after which the mixture is dried to a moisture content of 6 wt% and pressed in a screw press for oilseeds, as in the previous two examples.

Industrial! Application

The method of processing oilseeds and the equipment for its implementation can be used specifically for the production of highly pure oils and fats from oilseeds and pomace with a low fibre content and a high protein content. The pomace is then a valuable raw material for the production of food and feed.

Claims

Patent Claims

1. A method of processing oilseeds, specifically the method of processing oilseeds leading to obtaining oil from these seeds, characterised by that firstly the surface of the seeds is exposed in a means (1) for exposing the oil seeds the action of water, and/or water vapour, by the action of water, and/or water vapour, with the water, and/or water vapour entering the seeds, and subsequently the seeds being pressed in an oilseed pressing device (4), whereby the oil is separated from seeds.

2. The method of processing oilseeds, according to claim 1 , characterised by that the water content in the oilseeds is increased by at least 1 wt% water.

3. The method of processing oilseeds, according to either one of claims 1 and 2, characterised by that water and/or water vapour contains enzymes.

4. The method of processing oilseeds, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised by that the seeds contain, after the action of water and/or water vapour, a water content increased to 6 to 18 wi% water.

5. The method of processing oilseeds, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised by that the seeds are held for at least 20 minutes before being pressed in the oilseed pressing device (4).

6. The method of processing oilseeds, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised by that the surface of the seeds is, in the means (1 ) for exposing the oilseeds to the action of water, and/or water vapour, exposed to water, and/or water vapour, in such a way that water, and/or water vapour, is continuously sprayed onto the seeds.

7. The method of processing oilseeds, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised by that the surface of the seeds is, in the means (1 ) for exposing the oilseeds to the action of water, and/or water vapour, exposed to the action of water in such a way that the seeds are mixed with water in batches in the ratio of 88 to 99 wt% seeds and 1 to 12 wt% water.

8. The method of processing oilseeds, according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised by that firstly, before exposure to water and/or steam onto the surface of the seeds, the skins are removed from the surface of the seeds.

9. Equipment for processing oilseeds, specifically the equipment for processing oilseeds leading to obtaining oil from these seeds, according to the method of processing oilseeds, according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised by that it contains a means (1 ) for exposing the oilseeds to water and/or water vapour, which is connected to the oilseed pressing device (4). The device for the processing of oilseeds, according to claim 9, characterised by that between the means (1) for exposing the oilseeds to the action of water and/or water vapour, and the pressing device (4) a retention device (2) for the oilseeds is arranged. The device for processing oilseeds, according to claim 10. characterised by that, between the retaining device (2) and the oilseed pressing device (4), a conveyor (3) is arranged. Equipment for the processing of oilseeds, according to any one of claims 9 to 11 , characterised by that the means (1 ) for exposing the oilseeds to the action of water and/or water vapour is mixing conveyor. The device for processing oilseeds, according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterised by that the oilseed pressing device (4) is a screw press. The device for processing oilseeds, according to claim 13, characterised by that the screw press includes components that are in contact with the pressed oilseeds, which are heated. The device for processing oilseeds, according to one of claims 11 to 14, characterised by that the conveyor (3) is a screw conveyor.