Vegetable oil production traditionally relies on energy-intensive processes, primarily thermal extraction and chemical refining, consuming large amounts of fossil fuels. The industry emits on average 3.81 kg of CO2e per kg of refined oil which stems from the use of steam and heat in oil extraction, and the reliance on solvents like hexane in refining operations, which require substantial energy to recover and recycle. Solvent recovery via distillation alone constitutes at least 50% of the total energy consumption.
DE(SOLV)® developed by SepPure Technologies is a transformative, energy-efficient desolvation process to oil industry. It is a pressure-driven process designed to remove up to 90% of solvents from oils without the use of heat, not only leading to considerable reduction in energy consumption, but also making the process safer, particularly when dealing with flammable solvents.This technology provides a transformative solution for large-scale solvent plants including vegetable oil refineries, waste oil processors, solvent processors, and other producers seeking to improve sustainability and efficiency.
At the core of DE(SOLV)® is GreenMem®, a proprietary, chemical-resistant membranes with nano-sized pores for molecular-level chemical separation. Made from high-performance polymeric materials, these nanofiltration membranes are chemically modified to boost resistance, ensuring stability in harsh organic solvents, acids, alkalis, and heat. The innovative membranes can be integrated into the existing processes in a hybrid installation, working alongside the existing distillation unit. In this setup, the membrane unit removes the bulk of the solvent (up to 90%) without heat, leaving the distillation unit to handle the remainder.
This hybrid process results in significantly reduced steam and thermal load without compromising product quality. By leveraging advanced Organic Solvent Nanofiltration (OSN) membrane technology, oil refineries and solvent plants can improve overall process efficiency and reduce costs, contributing to more environmentally friendly and more economically sustainable operations.
Key features of technology:
- 90% solvent removal without heat
- Lower energy consumption & carbon footprint
- 50% less OPEX, achieve ROI within 2 years
- Full plant integration, safe & seamless operation
In working with leading producers of vegetable oil, SepPure GreenMem® membrane modules were used to separate the palm oil/acetone miscella. By replacing distillation units with membranes, they reduced operating costs by 70% and insulated business from fuel price hikes enabling dramatic sustainability and efficiency gains.
