The Effect of Optimizing the Stripping and Drying Parameters During Industrial Extraction on the Physicochemical Properties of Soybean Oil

Soybean oil is the second most consumed vegetable oil worldwide and is recognized as a source of heart-healthy polyunsaturated fatty acids. Optimizing the extraction process in the oil industry is essential for both economic and environmental sustainability. This research aimed to determine the optimal conditions for various extraction parameters—stripper temperature (110–140 °C), stripper pressure (150–210 mbar), and dryer pressure (60–120 mbar)—and their effects on the physicochemical properties of soybean oil. These properties include oil-insoluble fine substances, acidity, the color index, peroxide value, oxidative stability, and moisture content. The results indicated that the stripper temperature significantly influenced oil-insoluble fine substances, acidity, the color index, and peroxide value (p < 0.05). The optimal conditions for oil extraction were found to be a stripper temperature of 110 °C, a stripper pressure of 150 mbar, and a dryer pressure of 120 mbar. Under these conditions, the oil-insoluble fine substances, acidity, the color index, peroxide value, oxidative stability, and moisture content of soybean oil were in the ranges of 0.2–0.58%, 0.63–1.15%, 4.3–5.5, 0.67–1.23 meqO2/kg, 3–5.5, and 0.05–0.11%, respectively. These findings provide valuable insight for optimizing soybean oil extraction processes to enhance quality and efficiency. Future advancements in industrial oil extraction are expected to focus on integrating efficient, eco-friendly technologies and enhancing precision through automation and data analytics to optimize yield and minimize waste.