Neutralization
Process Description
The main purpose of chemical refining is to saponify the FFA by an alkaline solution and dilute the resulting soaps in a water phase. These soaps are removed by separators. For small-scale batch processes static separation is used but for continuous processing and large-scale processes, centrifugal separation is used.
Steps Involved
1) Heating
Crude oil is headed up to certain temperature by low pressure steam
2) Conditioning
Heated crude oil is treated with phosphoric acid for the removing/conditioning of the non-hydrated gums
3) Neutralization
For neutralisation, caustic soda is added directly ahead of the second mixer in such an amount that the free fatty acids and the phosphoric acid added previously are completely neutralised. After intensive mixing (depending on the oil treated) of oil and caustic soda in a high shear mixer, after that some retention time is provided to the mixer, soap stocks & Alkali refined oil separated by the centrifuge separator.
4) Washing
The neutralized oil obtains from neutralization process contains some soap stack, this oil is mixed with hot water and later separated by centrifuge separator.
5 ) Vacuum Drying
The neutralized oil dried under the vacuum to remove the moisture.