Advantages of Enzymatic Hydration of Vegetable Oils

The article examines the technological and economic advantages of enzymatic hydration of vegetable oils using sunflower oil as an example. The necessity of effective phospholipid removal at the initial stages of oil refining is substantiated, since their presence complicates subsequent oil purification and may result in additional losses of valuable components. The main features of enzymatic hydration are considered, and its advantages compared with conventional acid hydration are demonstrated. Particular attention is paid to the use of the enzyme preparation Purifine 3G, which is a complex of phospholipases capable of promoting the effective conversion of phospholipids during oil hydration. An economic efficiency calculation for the application of enzymatic hydration in the processing of 1 t of sunflower oil is presented. The effect of converting phospholipids into fat-soluble diacy-?glycerols, which remain in the oil phase, on the overall oil yield is determined. The reduction in neutral oil losses with hydratable gums as a result of enzymatic hydration is also taken into account. Under the calculation conditions adopted, the total effect of oil retention was found to be approximately 10.6 kg per 1 t of processed oil. At an average sunflower oil value of USD 1,000 per 1 t, this corresponds to an additional economic effect of approximately USD 10.6 per 1 t of oil. For a plant with a processing capacity of 500 t/day, the calculated additional profit may amount to approximately USD 5,300 per day. It is shown that the economic efficiency of enzymatic hydration is determined not only by the direct reduction in oil losses but also by the possibility of more complete utilization of the phospholipid fraction. The potential technological advantages of the process associated with reducing the residual phospholipid content in oil are also highlighted. Obtaining oil with a low residual phosp-?olipid content creates prerequisites for improving the efficiency of subsequent refining stages and for the possible application of physical refining. Thus, the results of the analysis indicate the feasibility of using enzymatic hydration of sunflower oil as a technological solution that combines increased oil yield, reduced oil losses, and an economic effect during industrial processing.