Neutralization is a chemical process for separating the free fatty acids from oils using Caustic.

The neutralised oil is to be washed before bleaching to separate any traces of soap or acid from oil.

After washing, the oil is vacuum dried to remove any water traces.

Salient features are:
Degummed oil after conditioning is fed into the mixer where it is mixed with calculated quantity of caustic soda solution of suitable strength. Free fatty acids in the oil react with caustic soda to form soap. The mixture of oil and soap along with the precipitated gums is fed into a Centrifuge to separate oil and soap stock.

Washing
Neutralised oil is then pumped into knife mixture. The oil is mixed intensively with hot water fed by pump in the knife mixer, then the mixture is fed into a Centrifuge (separator).Traces of soap in the neutralised oil is separated by water from the oil phase. Oil and soapy water are then separated in the hermetic centrifuge/separator. The washed oil from separator is dried continuously in the vacuum drier.

Vacuum Drying
Washed oil is fed continuously to the Vacuum dryer and sprayed through specially designed nozzles.