How long would it take to refine crude palm oil in Nigeria with all necessary resources?

Refining crude palm oil is a complex process that involves removing impurities, neutralizing free fatty acids, bleaching the crude palm oil to improve its color, and deodorizing to eliminate unwanted odors and flavors. In Nigeria, which is one of the largest producers of palm oil in Africa, the crude palm oil refining process can be optimized given the availability of necessary resources. Below is an approximate timeline for each stage of refined crude palm oil in Nigeria:

Crude palm oil refining process

1. Reception and Storage of Crude Palm Oil

The first step in the crude palm oil refining process is the reception and storage of crude palm oil. This involves unloading the crude palm oil from transport vehicles and storing it in large tanks or silos. The time required for this stage depends on the capacity of the tanker delivering the crude palm oil and how the crude palm oil was filled, but it usually takes 0.5-2 hours.

2. Degumming

Degumming is the process of removing gums and phospholipids from the crude palm oil. This is usually done using water and heat, followed by the addition of acid or alkali to precipitate the impurities. The crude palm oil degumming process can take 2-6hours, depending on the capacity of the crude palm oil refining equipment and the quality of the crude palm oil.

Crude palm oil degumming and deacidification equipment

3. Deacidification

After crude palm oil degumming, the oil undergoes neutralization to remove free fatty acids. This is typically achieved by treating the oil with alkali (usually sodium hydroxide) at elevated temperatures. The crude palm oil deacidification process can take 2-6hours, including the time required for heating, mixing and settling of the palm oil.

4. Decolorization

Decolorization is carried out to remove pigments, such as carotenoids and chlorophyll, which give the oil its dark color. The crude palm oil decolorization process is done using bleaching earth or activated carbon. The crude palm oil decolorization process can take 2hours, depending on the desired level of decolorization and the efficiency of the crude palm oil refining equipment.

The crude palm oil decolorization equipment

5. Deodorization

Deodorization is perhaps the most critical step in the crude palm oil refining process. It involves the removal of volatile compounds that contribute to the odor and flavor of the oil. This is typically done under high vacuum and high temperature using steam distillation. The crude palm oil deodorization can take 5 hours, depending on the scale of operation and the specific requirements of the refined crude palm oil.

Crude palm oil deodorization equipment

6. Fractionation (Optional)

In addition to the above crude palm oil refining process, some palm oil refineries will also fractionate palm oil. At a certain temperature, using the differences in melting points and solubility of various triglycerides that make up the palm oil, the oil is separated into solid and liquid parts, and then palm oil stearin and palm oil olein are obtained. This palm oil fractionation process can take 12-48 hours. It depends on the oil characteristics of palm oil, crude palm oil refining equipment performance and process parameters, etc.

Crude palm oil fractionation equipment 3D diagram

7. Filtering and Packaging

Once the refined crude palm oil has been through all the necessary refining steps, it undergoes final filtering to remove any remaining impurities and is then ready for packaging. This stage can take one hour, depending on the scale of palm oil production and the type of packaging used.

In conclusion, it will take about 1 days to refine crude palm oil in Nigeria with all necessary resources. However, it's important to note that this is a general estimate, and the actual time can vary depending on various factors. If you are interested in equipment and process for refined crude palm oil in Nigeria, welcome to contact Henan Glory Oil & Fats Engineering Co., LTD. Their crude palm oil refining equipment is designed for maximum efficiency, ensuring that the crude palm oil is refined to the highest quality standards. In addition to this, they also have a local office in Nigeria that can provide you with comprehensive technical support and training services!