10TPD Palm Oil Refinery Plant Machine in Nigeria

Nigeria is an important palm oil producer in Africa. It has climate and land conditions suitable for the growth of palm trees. Its large palm fruit output can provide a stable supply of raw materials for refineries.Nigeria has a large population and strong consumer demand for palm oil and its products, and there is also a large demand for palm oil imports every year. Establishing a refinery can not only meet local market demand, but also export to surrounding countries.

10TPD Palm Oil Refinery Machine is an important part of palm oil manufacturing. Oil palm refining machine can remove mechanical impurities, solute impurities, pigments, moisture, and free fatty acids in grease. Our oil refining machine is suitable to all kinds of oil, eg: rice bran, palm, sunflower, soybean, sesame, rapeseed, peanut, cotton seed, corn germ, walnut, almond, castor seed etc.

10TPD Palm Oil Refinery Plant Process

• Degumming: Crude palm oil contains phospholipids and other gum – like substances. In the degumming process, water or steam is added to the crude oil to make the gum – like substances hydrate and precipitate. Then, through centrifugation or filtration, the hydrated gum – like substances are removed to obtain degummed oil.
• Deacidification: Crude palm oil usually has a certain acid value due to the presence of free fatty acids. In the deacidification process, an appropriate amount of alkali (such as sodium hydroxide) is added to react with the free fatty acids to form soapstock. After that, the soapstock is separated from the oil through centrifugation or filtration, thereby reducing the acid value of the palm oil.
• Decolorization: To remove pigments in palm oil and improve its color, a decolorizing agent (such as activated carbon or activated bleaching earth) is added to the oil. The decolorizing agent adsorbs the pigments in the oil. Then, through filtration, the decolorizing agent and the adsorbed pigments are removed to obtain a lighter – colored palm oil.
• Deodorization: Palm oil may have some unpleasant odors. In the deodorization process, the oil is heated under vacuum conditions, and steam is introduced. The steam strips off the odor – causing substances in the oil, thereby obtaining refined palm oil with good odor and quality.
• Fractionation (Optional): If necessary, the refined palm oil can be fractionated. For example, dry fractionation technology can be used. Through controlling the cooling temperature and crystallization time of palm oil, different fractions of palm oil (such as palm olein and palm stearin) with different melting points are separated to meet the needs of different markets and applications.

Equipment Configuration

• Refining Pot: Used for degumming, deacidification, and other operations. It is usually made of stainless steel or carbon steel and has functions such as heating, stirring, and temperature control.
• Decolorization Pot: A container for decolorization operations, which can provide a suitable environment for the 充分 reaction of the decolorizing agent and the oil.
• Deodorization Pot: It is equipped with a vacuum system and a steam – introduction device to realize the deodorization process of palm oil under vacuum and high – temperature conditions.
• Conductive Oil Stove: Used to provide heat for the entire refining process to ensure that each process can be carried out at the required temperature.
• Vacuum Pump: It is an important equipment for decolorization and deodorization, which can create a vacuum environment in the deodorization pot and decolorization pot to promote the removal of odor – causing substances and pigments.
• Air Compressor: Used to dry the white clay after it absorbs pigments in the oil, so as to recycle or dispose of the white clay.
• Steam Generator: It provides steam for the deodorization pot and other processes that require steam.
• Centrifuge: Used for separating solid – liquid mixtures, such as separating soapstock from oil in the deacidification process and separating the decolorizing agent from the oil in the decolorization process.

Nigeria is strongly supporting the development of its palm oil refining industry.

In 2019, the Nigerian government increased financing for oil palm growers through low-interest loans, aiming to increase domestic production by 700% by 2027. Prior to this, to support local palm oil production, the government also raised import tariffs on palm oil from the current 35% to 75%. Furthermore, the Nigerian government will collaborate with research institutions to distribute high-quality seedlings and agricultural inputs to farmers, implementing various measures to expand palm oil planting areas and accelerate the development of the palm oil industry. In summary, considering the supply-demand gap in the palm oil market, the Nigerian government has been committed to the development and support of the palm oil industry since 2015, hoping that domestic production can catch up with demand and ultimately export the surplus palm oil overseas.(Related post: Steps to Invest in Palm Oil Processing Plant in Nigeria)

Refined Palm Oil Vs. Crude Palm Oil

Crude palm oil, also known as unrefined pure palm oil, has a reddish-brown color, a strong odor and flavor, and a high content of free fatty acids, carotenoids, phospholipids, and other substances that may affect its stability and shelf life. Crude palm oil is used as a raw material for refining, fractionating, and processing into various products, such as cooking oil, margarine, shortening, soap, biodiesel, and cosmetics.

Conversely, refined palm oil is obtained from refining crude palm oil, which is the oil that is extracted from the fruit of the oil palm tree. The oil has undergone further processing to remove impurities and improve its quality. It is also called as Refined Bleached Deodorized Palm Oil (RBDPO). Refined palm oil has a pale-yellow color, a mild odor and flavor, and a low content of free fatty acids, carotenoids, phospholipids, and other substances that may affect its stability and shelf life.

Refined palm oil is more suitable for cooking and frying, as it has a higher smoke point and does not alter the taste of food.

As a professional manufacturer of palm oil refinery machine, QIE Machinery not only supply the high quality electric heating palm oil refinery plant, but also supply the careful and considerate after-sales service. Our company can provide you with the most professional advice from product consultation, to recommendation of suitable equipment, to transportation, installation, commissioning and normal production of equipment.