degumming

Degumming is a food processing technique used to remove gums, gummy substances, or sericin from oils and fats. This process is crucial for refining extracted oils, particularly those containing significant amounts of phospholipids.12

Water Refining (Degumming)

Water refining, commonly known as degumming, involves treating the natural oil with a small amount of water. This is followed by a centrifugal separation to remove the gummy materials. The separated phospholipids can be dried and commercially sold as lecithin, which is used as an emulsifier in products like margarine and chocolate.2

Alkali Refining

Alkali refining uses a solution of caustic soda or soda ash to remove free fatty acids and other impurities from fats. This process can be done in batches or continuously, with the impurities (soapstock) being settled or separated by centrifuges.3

Deodorization

After refining, fats may undergo deodorization to remove volatile components that cause undesirable odors and tastes. This is achieved by blowing steam through the heated fat under a high vacuum, resulting in a neutral, odorless product suitable for shortening or margarine.4