Investigation on hexane-insoluble materials in lecithin

In lecithin production unit Of Jahan Vegetable Oil Co. (JVOC), Karaj, Iran, studies are made for the lecithin produced by hexane extracted soybean oil, with the standard specification (except for hexane-insoluble (HI) materials), which, is above 0.3% in crude lecithin. HI materials in lecithin are detrimental to clarity as it can cause haziness in fluid lecithin and usability in specific application. Analyses of crude oil before and after filtration indicated that filter plates do not effect lyre move of the impurities of residual fines, seed fragments and metal particles. Crude oil has more HI materials during degumming than before degumming. Analyses of oil and lecithin during processing steps showed increase in HI and toluene-insoluble (TI) materials where ever water was added. Degumming water contained about 360-1330 ppm salt (T.S), which contributed to the HI mateials. About 30-38% of HI are salt and the rest are water-soluble most probably sugar, Salt free water and efficient filtration of oil, as tested in laboratory degumming process, decreased the HI matters in lecithin to below 0.3%.