Plant-based oils play a huge role in the food industry. The primary sources are oil-bearing seeds:
- sunflower,
- rapeseed,
- soybean,
- corn.
A technologically advanced oil processing facility like these https://largos-real.com/en/buyers/olijnij-zavod-en/ converts the seeds into refined, comestible products, ready for consumption or industrial use. To ensure high efficiency, quality and safety, these plants rely on an interconnected infrastructure system encompassing processing, storage, energy and environmental units.
Oil plant structure
- The primary processing infrastructure forms the foundation of a plant oil processing facility, where oilseeds are cleaned, prepared, and extracted. This begins in the seed cleaning and conditioning sections, where impurities such as dust, husks, and stones are removed using mechanical sieves, aspirators, and magnetic separators. The cleaned seeds are then crushed or flaked to increase the surface area and improve the yield of the oil. Conditioning units use controlled heat and moisture to prepare the seeds for extraction.
- Next comes the oil extraction unit, which uses either mechanical or chemical methods. In mechanical extraction, screw presses or expellers apply high pressure to squeeze oil from the seed material. Larger plants often combine this with solvent extraction systems, in which hexane or another food-grade solvent is used to draw out the remaining oil. The solvent is then separated and recycled, and the crude oil is collected for further processing.
- Once extracted, the oil is passed through a refining process to remove unwanted components, such as free fatty acids, phospholipids and pigments. This process generally involves degumming, neutralisation, bleaching and deodorisation. Specialised equipment is required for each stage, including separators, filters, heat exchangers, and vacuum systems. This ensures that the final product meets food safety and quality standards, achieving a stable colour, odour, and taste.
- Supporting this main process are extensive storage and material handling systems. Large silos and seed bins store raw materials under controlled conditions to prevent moisture build-up and spoilage. Extracted and refined oils are stored in stainless steel tanks with temperature regulation and nitrogen blanketing systems to prevent oxidation. Pipelines and pumping systems connect all stages, ensuring smooth product transfer with minimal risk of contamination.
- A vital component of the plant’s infrastructure is the utility section, which supplies steam, electricity, compressed air and water. Boilers, heat recovery systems and cooling towers maintain a balanced temperature, while wastewater treatment and filtration units ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Many modern facilities also incorporate automation and control systems that monitor pressure, temperature and flow rates in order to optimise performance and energy efficiency.
Finally, the packaging and quality control departments form the final link in the production chain. Laboratories perform regular testing for purity and consistency, while automated filling and labelling lines prepare the oil for market distribution.
