Highly Efficient Deacidification Process for Camelina sativa Crude Oil by Molecular Distillation

Recovery and reuse of high-acidity vegetable oil waste (higher content of free fatty acids) is a major concern for reducing their effect on the environment. Moreover, the conventional deacidification processes are known to show drawbacks, such as oil losses or higher costs of wastewater treatment, f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sustainability 2021-03, Vol.13 (5), p.2818
Main Authors: Ştefan, Nicoleta Gabriela, Iancu, Petrica, Pleșu, Valentin, Călinescu, Ioan, Ignat, Nicoleta Daniela
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acidity
Camelina sativa
Capital costs
Caustic soda
Crude oil
Deacidification
Distillation
Economic analysis
Efficiency
Environmental effects
Ethanol
Evaporation
Evaporators
Fatty acids
Flow rates
High temperature
High vacuum
Laboratories
Methods
Oil wastes
Potash
Potassium
Production costs
Response surface methodology
Soap
Solvents
Statistical analysis
Statistics
Sustainability
Triglycerides
Vacuum distillation
Vegetable oils
Wastewater treatment
Water consumption
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Summary:Recovery and reuse of high-acidity vegetable oil waste (higher content of free fatty acids) is a major concern for reducing their effect on the environment. Moreover, the conventional deacidification processes are known to show drawbacks, such as oil losses or higher costs of wastewater treatment, for which it requires great attention, especially at the industrial scale. This work presents the design of a highly efficient and sustainable process for Camelina sativa oil deacidification by using an ecofriendly method, namely molecular distillation. Experimental studies were performed to identify operating conditions for removing of free fatty acids (FFA) by molecular distillation which involves the oil evaporation in high vacuum conditions. The experimental studies were supported by statistical analysis and technical-economic analysis. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to formulate and validate second-order models to predict deacidification efficiency, FFA concentration, and triacylglyceride (TAG) concentration in deodorized oil based on three parameters effects, validated by statistical p-value < 0.05. For a desirability function value of 0.9826, the optimal parameters of evaporator temperature at 173.5 °C, wiper speed at 350 rpm, and feed flowrate at 2 mL/min were selected. The results for process design at optimal conditions (using conventional and molecular distillation methods) showed an efficiency over 92%, a significant reduction in FFA (up to 1%), and an increase in TAG (up to 93%) in refined oil for both methods. From an economical point of view, the deacidification by molecular distillation of Camelina sativa oil is a sustainable process: no wastewater generation, no solvents and water consumption, and lower production costs, obtaining a valuable by-product (FFA).
ISSN:2071-1050
2071-1050
DOI:10.3390/su13052818