2. INTRODUCTION
Vegetable oil processing industry involves
extraction & processing of oils and fats from
vegetable sources.
The oils & fats are extracted from a variety of fruits,
seeds & nuts. The preparation of raw material
includes husking, crushing, cleaning & conditioning.
The extraction process are generally mechanical or
involve the use of solvent such as hexane.
Crude oil is separated and solvent is evaporated
and recovered. Crude oil refining includes
degumming, neutralization, bleaching,
deodorization. 2
3. Environmental issues associated with operational
phase of vegetable oil production processing
primarily include the following.
1. Solid waste and by-product
2. Waste water consumption & management
3. Energy consumption & management
4. Atmospheric emissions
5. Green house gas emissions
6. Hazardous materials
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4. SOLID WASTE & BY-PRODUCTS
Vegetable oil processing activities generate
significant quantities of organic solid waste, residue
and by-products such as empty fruit bunches and
waste palm kernels.
The amount of waste generated depends on quality
of raw materials & process efficiency .
Other solid wastes from vegetable oil include soap
stock and spent acids from chemical refining of
crude oil.
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5. WATER CONSUMPTION & MANAGEMENT
Vegetable oil facilitates require significant amount
of water for crude oil production (cooling water),
chemical neutralization, washing & deodorization.
Recommendation to reduce water consumption,
optimize water use & efficiency and waste water
treatment.
Techniques for treating industrial process waste
water in this sector include: grease traps, skimmers
or oil water separators for the removal of floatable
solids.
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6. ENERGY CONSUMPTION & MANAGEMENT
Vegetable oil processing facilitates use of energy to
heat water and produce steam both for process
application and cleaning process.
Other common energy consumption systems
include refrigeration and compressed air.
1. Improve the uniformity of feed to stabilize and
reduce energy requirement.
2. Increase efficiency of air removal in sterilization
vessels to improve heat transfer.
3. Reduce stripping steam consumption by
improving process efficiency.
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7. ATMOSPHERIC EMISSIONS
Process emissions
The particulate matter (dust) & VOC’s are the
principal emission from vegetable oil production
and processing.
Dust results from processing, cleaning, screening
and crushing of raw material, whereas VOC
emissions are caused by use of oil extractions
solvents normally hexane, several sources within
vegetable oil processing plants generate solvent
emissions.
This includes leaks in piping and vents and product
storage. 7
8. GREEN HOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
The high nutrient loading of waste water can be a
source of methane and nitrous oxide emission
associated with degradation of nitrogen
components in waste water (urea, nitrate & nitrate)
Recommended measure to control non fossil fuel
related emission.
1. Avoid open anaerobic conditions for waste water
treatment.
2. Consider biological methods of waste water
treatment such as anaerobic digestion & methane
capture.
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9. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
Vegetable oil processing involves transport, storage
and use of bulk quantities of acids, alkali, solvent
and hydrogen during extraction and refining.
Their transport, storage and handling provides
opportunities for spills and other types of release
with potentially negative impact on soil and water
resources.
They can be classified into physical and chemical
hazards.
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10. 1. Chemical Hazards
Operations in vegetable oil facilities may be
exposed to hazardous substance via inhalation of
hexane & other solvents, inhalation of toxic
chemical, eye or skin exposure to acids or bases,
inhalation of aflatoxins present in raw materials and
dust.
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11. 2. Physical hazards
In vegetable oil production and processing
facilitates are similar to those present in other
industries.
Includes potential falls by slippery floors and stairs,
injuries caused by unprotected machinery or
moving parts, hazards associated with potential
collision with internal transport (truck) & accidental
contact with conveyor system.
They can be classified into:
1. Confined space entry
2. Electrical hazards
3. Risk of fire & explosion
4. Noise hazards 11
