Design of a Pilot Plant for the Phase Separation Stage in the Canola Oil Extraction Green Processing with Ethanol: A Proposal

Abstract

The aim of the present work was to design a phase separation stage for the canola oil ethanolic extraction process, addressing the challenges of separating ethanolsolubilized polar compounds from oil. The importance of this stage lies in the fact that when ethanol is used as a solvent in the extraction of this oil, the resulting product is not pure, as ethanol, unlike the conventional solvent hexane, solubilizes polar compounds. Therefore, it is necessary to separate the oil from these compounds. To achieve this, a process is presented that includes the following equipments: evaporators, a cooler, a decanter, a storage tank, as well as a pump, valves and a piping system, all of which designed for use in a pilot plant. The proposed design enables ethanol recycling, contributing to operational cost reduction and minimizing environmental impact. As the industry shifts towards more sustainable practices, the findings of this study could guide the development of technologies that balance efficiency and environmental responsibility.