1

Solvent extraction - forward

In the field of the oily seeds and other natural raw materials, one of the most
utilized systems for obtaining oils and crude fats, is surely the Solvent
Extraction.
According to the initial content of oil and fat in raw materials, it is possible to
execute the direct solvent extraction or a previous reduction of the fat
content by means of pressing or pre-pressing, followed by solvent
extraction of the oil from the solid residue of the pre-pressing (cake).
A correct preparation of the material (generally consisting in mechanical
or thermal processes) is very important to guarantee the best results in
extraction.
The most widely used solvent is still hexane, mainly due to its high selectivity
and in spite of the negative factors that this solvent presents as far as safety
is concerned.

Counter-current extraction

MISCELA RICCA
MISCELLA RICHE
RICH MISCELLA
MISCELLA RICA

MATERIALE DA ESTRARRE
MATERIEL A EXTRAIRE
MATERIAL TO BE EXTRACTED
MATERIAL A EXTRAER

SOLVENTE PURO
SOLVANT FRAIS
FRESH SOLVENT
SOLVENTE FRESCO

MATERIALE ESAURITO
MATERIE EPUISE
EXHAUSTED MATERIAL
MATERIAL AGOTADO

Selection of solvent extraction system

When evaluating and selecting the extraction process, it is most important
to bear in mind that the plant should satisfy the following requirements:
a) to assure an efficient and uniform contact between the solvent and
the material to be extracted, without originating cloggings nor canalization or preferential ways;
b) to reach a deoling degree which results interesting from the
economical point of view in the shortest possible time (that is with the
minimum operative volume and with the maximum efficiency of the
washing systems);
c) to obtain an oil/solvent clean mixture with high oil concentration;
d) to rely on simple and strong equipment, provided with few moving parts
requiring minimum maintenance and assuring easy access and facility of
inspection in all parts;
e) to grant high flexibility so that the working conditions can be optimized
according to the characteristics of the raw material;
f) to be very compact and designed in the respect of the most rigorous
safety standards.
Our Company has designed and realized a plant capable of satisfying all
these requisites: the circular extractor TURNEX. It is proposed in a wide
range of sizes and working capacities from 50 to 5000 t/24 h and more.
The Extraction Plant mainly consists of the following stages:
- Solvent Extraction
- Desolventizing (and eventual Toasting) of the deoiled meal
- Miscella Distillation
- Solvent Recovery
The process flowdiagram of the Extraction & Desolventizing section is
represented in the drawing A (para 3).
The process flowdiagram of Miscella Distillation section is represented in the
drawing B (para 5).
The process flowdiagram of the Solvent Recovery section is represented in
the drawing C (para 6).

General view
of a Turnex plant

Turnex circular extractor

The TURNEX circular Extractor is a continuously working unit for counter
current solid-liquid extraction (drawing A).
The TURNEX typically works by percolation but it can also assure the
complete flooding of the solid material.
The extractor consists of a cylindrical casing with vertical shaft, absolutely
tight to solvent vapours, provided with a fixed horizontal filtering floor.
An annular rotor, divided into compartments or cells without bottom,
rotates on the filtering screen and receives the product to be extracted in
a point of the run; by rotating, it conveys the material by making it slide on
the filtering bottom up to the end of the circular run. At this point, the
filtering bottom is missing in one sector and, consequently, the exhausted
material falls into a hopper, from which it will be sent to the following
treatment (desolventizing).

3.1

Turnex circular extractor

The rotor is supported by one or more pinions, driven by an oleodynamic
system at variable speed enabling the extraction time to be changed.
These pinions, which are very simple and strong, are the only moving parts
of the whole extractor besides, of course, the rotor; there are no chains nor
creeping parts or cams nor other parts subject to movement nor wear
whatsoever.
The fixed filtering bottom is completely manufactured of stainless steel.
A set of trays, placed under the filtering bottom, collect the miscellas at
different concentration (recycled through a set of pumps) and receives, as
last washing, a pure solvent rain (counter current extraction).
The solid material itself acts as a filter; the rich miscella is therefore clean
when comes out of the extractor (it can be furtherly filtered only to safety
purpose).
The extractor is normally equipped with one working stage only but,
according to working capacity, it is also possible to manufacture extractors
having two or more working stages.

Turnex under
construction

Meal desolventizing
The deoiled material is fed to the Desolventizer (drawing A, para 3) which,
if requested, is also utilized for the meal toasting (soybean) through live
steam injection.
Modern units are often designed as to realize, in a unique apparatus, also
meal desolventizing and cooling (these units are called DTDC
desolventizer/toaster/dryer/cooler).
Often, however, due to safety reasons, it is preferred to realize meal
dehydration and cooling in units separated from the desolventizer.

Desolventizer

Miscella distillation
The rich miscella is distilled in different subsequent stages (at always more
and more reduced pressure) up to obtain the crude oil (drawing B).
The first stage is generally realized in the Economizer EV, which permits
to realize considerable steam and water savings, as the miscella is
evaporated under vacuum by utilizing the latent heat of the vapours
coming out of the desolventizer DT which are so condensed.

Solvent recovery
The vents coming from all the equipment are collected in a unique header
and processed in a solvent recovery unit before being discharged to
atmosphere.
The solvent recovery section is based on an absorption system with mineral
oil (drawing C).
To increase the recovery efficiency, the vents can be cooled by a frigorific
compressor before being sent to absorption.

6.1

Solvent recovery

Miscella distillation and solvent recovery

We are pleased to inform you that Gianazza International has acquired the rights to Gianazza Technology. We have over 250 successfully
operating plants for edible oils and fats refining as well as more than
300 plants for oleochemicals throughout the world.
Considering the world continuous evolution, Gianazza International is
determined to continue Gianazza's century old commitment to quality
and focus on core business of introducing new technologies, plants
and facilities as well as providing the necessary parts needed to
maintain a first class production.
We are confident to appraise our customers that the Gianazza International has the technology and the know-how of Gianazza under a
new structure in order to offer reliable services for years to come. We
have the support of skillful personnels from Gianazza who trust in
more than 120 years of experiences our company has gained since
1892. Gianazza International is devoted to provide long term satisfaction to our customers.

GIANAZZA
nternational
GIANAZZA INTERNATIONAL srl

Via Cefalonia, 55 - 25124 Brescia (Italy)

Phone +39.030.2425051 - Fax +39.030.2449309
e-mail: info@gianazza.eu
www.gianazza.eu

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