How does a modern industrial palm oil processing plant produce palm oil?

In the contemporary global oil market, palm oil holds a pivotal position, extensively utilized in industries ranging from food to chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Modern industrial palm oil processing plants, leveraging advanced technologies and stringent process flows, transform palm fruits into refined palm oil with high efficiency, meeting large-scale production demands and market needs. The following is the detailed process of palm oil production in a modern industrial palm oil processing plant.

1. Palm Fruit Harvesting and Transportation

Modern industrial palm oil production begins with the harvesting of palm fruit. The raw material of palm oil comes from the fruit of the oil palm tree. The oil palm tree generally starts to bear fruit after 3-4 years and can be harvested several times a year. The mature palm fruit is harvested manually or mechanically and then quickly transported to the palm oil processing plant. In order to ensure the quality of palm oil, the harvested palm fruits must be processed within 48 hours if possible to prevent the pulp from becoming rancid and affecting the oil quality.

Palm fruit transportation picture

2. Palm Fruit Pretreatment

After arriving at the palm oil processing plant, the palm fruit first goes through a pretreatment stage. The fruit needs to be sterilized by palm fruit sterilization equipment to soften it and kill microorganisms in the fruit. Then, the palm fruit is separated from the fruit bunch by a thresher. Finally, the palm fruit is digested by a vertical digesting equipment to prepare for the subsequent oil extraction.

3. Palm Oil Pressing and Extraction

After the fruit is digested, it will enter the palm oil pressing equipment. Modern industrial palm oil processing plants usually use continuous pressing technology, using double screw palm oil press equipment to squeeze the oil out of the fruit. This process produces crude palm oil, which usually contains more impurities, so further cleaning and refining are required.

Palm oil extraction equipment

4. Palm Oil Clarification and Waste Oil Treatment

The crude palm oil produced during the palm fruit pressing and digesting processes will flow into the oil clarification tank. The clean oil obtained after the crude palm oil is treated in the oil clarification tank will enter the rotary vibrating screen to remove impurities. The impurities will return to the palm oil pressing equipment for further pressing, and the clean oil will continue to enter the vertical oil clarifier for further impurity removal. Finally, the clean oil will be stored in the crude oil tank. During this process, the silt at the bottom of the oil clarification tank and the bottom of the vertical oil clarifier will be regularly discharged to the waste oil recovery pool for recycling. It should be noted that the lower layer of waste oil obtained in the vertical oil clarifier will also be processed by the chakron and three-phase decanter centrifuge and then enter the waste oil recovery pool for recycling. These steps significantly reduce impurity levels, preparing the oil for subsequent refining.

Palm oil clarification equipment

5. Palm Kernel Recycling:

In the above-mentioned palm oil pressing process, a mixture of fiber and nut is usually produced. The fiber separation column installed in the modern industrial palm oil processing plant will separate the fiber and nut. The nut obtained in this process will enter the stone removal column to remove heavier impurities. After that, it can be processed by the nut grading screen, shelling machine and air separation column to obtain clean palm kernels. These palm kernels will be dried and stored in the kernel bin. The shell will be processed by the mud and water separator and the rotary vibrating screen and then stored in the shell bin.

Palm kernel processing equipment

6. Palm Oil Refining:

After mechanical extraction, crude palm oil usually contains some impurities, pigments, odors and unsaturated fatty acids. In order to improve the quality and stability of the palm oil, it needs to be refined. The palm oil refining process includes multiple steps of degumming, deacidification, decolorization and deodorization. Through high temperature, activated carbon adsorption, steam treatment and other treatments, the undesirable components in palm oil are removed, making the palm oil purer, more transparent and in line with food safety standards. Modern industrial palm oil processing plants are also equipped with advanced automated testing equipment to monitor the quality of palm oil in real time to ensure that each batch of palm oil meets the best standards.

Palm oil refining equipment

7. Palm Oil Packaging and Storage

The refined palm oil finally enters the packaging stage. Modern industrial palm oil processing plants usually use fully automatic palm oil packaging equipment to package the oil into packaging containers of various specifications, such as bottles, barrels and bags. The packaged palm oil will be stored in temperature-controlled warehouses, waiting to be distributed to various markets and consumers.

8. Sustainability and Environmental Protection

Modern industrial palm oil processing plants also focus on environmental protection and sustainable development. Many palm oil processing plants use advanced wastewater treatment technology and waste gas recovery systems to reduce environmental pollution during the production process. At the same time, more and more palm oil producers have begun to promote the planting and processing of sustainable palm oil, following the concept of "zero deforestation" to ensure that palm oil production will not have a serious impact on the ecological environment.

In conclusion, modern industrial palm oil processing plants use advanced palm oil processing equipment and technology to process palm fruits into high-quality palm oil. This process not only includes multiple links, but also places special emphasis on environmental protection and sustainability. With the advancement of technology, palm oil production has become more efficient, green and intelligent, which not only meets the global market's demand for high-quality oils, but also provides consumers with healthier and safer products. If you also want to learn about or engage in palm oil processing business, welcome to consult Henan Glory Company, a professional palm oil processing equipment manufacturer!