Deodorization is typically the last step in edible oil refining. The process removes compounds such as carotenoids, free-fatty acids, tocopherols, aldehydes, peroxides, and others. Laboratory scale deodorization equipment can vary from adapted roto-evaporators to fully customized glassware systems.
The video below previews a custom lab-scale deodorizer at our Innovation Center in Vernon Hills, Illinois. It is capable of processing up to 6 samples at a time. The video also shows the Lovibond Tintometer used to measure color of oil samples.
VIDEO
The table below displays deodorized oil colors of the samples processed in the video.
| Sample | Lovibond Tintometer 5.25” Cell | |||
| AOCS Red | AOCS Yellow | Lovibond Red | Lovibond Yellow | |
| Acid Degummed | ||||
| 1% Clay, Deodorized | 0.9* | 50 | 1.2 | 51 |
| 1.5% Clay, Deodorized | 1.1 | 34 | 1.4 | 39 |
| 2% Clay, Deodorized | 0.7 | 24 | 1.0 | 28 |
| Caustic Refined | ||||
| 1% Clay, Deodorized | 1.9 | 38 | 2.1 | 51 |
| 1.5% Clay, Deodorized | 1.0 | 28 | 1.2 | 34 |
| 2% Clay, Deodorized | 0.5 | 19 | 1.2 | 22.6 |
*Sample red color is lower than expected (with respect to yellow color). This can be due to an effect we call “chlorophyll masking”. When chlorophyll values of an oil sample are above 80 ppb, a deodorized sample can have a green tinge that masks the red color measurement by the Lovibond Tintometer.
If you have any questions about laboratory deodorization or other small scale oil processing techniques, feel free to contact us!