Sunflower Oil Processing Plant Operation Guide

Looking to enter the sunflower oil market but worried about complex equipment or low oil yield? Whether you plan a small-scale cold-press plant or a medium-to-large automated production line, QIE Group, with over 40 years of experience in edible oil equipment manufacturing, provides professional, standardized sunflower oil production lines and complete equipment solutions, helping investors achieve high oil yield, stable profits, and sustainable growth. This guide will take you through the complete sunflower oil processing workflow, from raw material preparation to refining and packaging.

1. Raw Material Preparation: Efficient Cleaning and Cell Disruption

1.1 Cleaning and Debris Removal

• Purpose: Remove leaves, stones, metal, and other impurities to prevent equipment wear and oil contamination.

• Key Equipment: Vibrating screens, magnetic separators, gravity destoners.

• Parameters: Impurities ≤0.2%, moisture ≤10%.

• Tips: Use multi-layer screening to reduce downstream equipment load.

1.2 Dehulling and Kernel Separation

• Purpose: Minimize oil loss in hulls (22%-40%) and improve oil yield.

• Key Equipment: Centrifugal dehuller + kernel-hull separator (enclosed dust-proof design).

• Parameters: Kernels contain <5% hulls; hulls contain <1% kernels.

1.3 Flaking and Roasting

• Purpose: Break cell structure, adjust flake temperature and moisture for optimal oil release.

• Key Equipment: Flaking machine (flake thickness 0.3mm), multi-layer roasting kettle.

• Parameters: Roasting temperature 110–120°C, moisture 5–8%, time 40–50 minutes.

• Safety: Insulate steam pipes to prevent burns.

2. Pressing Stage: Screw Press and Crude Oil Filtration

2.1 Screw Pressing

• Purpose: Physically extract crude oil, residual oil rate 5–8%.

• Equipment: Screw oil press (pre-press + solvent extraction recommended for >95% oil recovery).

• Parameters: Pressing temperature ≤130°C, cake thickness 1.5–2mm.

2.2 Crude Oil Filtration

• Purpose: Remove cake particles and reduce refining load.

• Equipment: Settling tank + vertical blade filter (filtration precision ≤0.1mm).

3. Solvent Extraction Stage (Medium/Large Plants)

• Purpose: Use organic solvent (usually hexane) to extract residual oil from pressed cake, achieving residual oil ≤1%.

• Equipment: Extractor, desolventizer, solvent recovery system.

• Parameters: Solvent recovery ≥98%, residual oil ≤1%.

• Safety: Explosion-proof design, grounding, no open flames.

• Note: Operators must be professionally trained; regularly test solvent residues.

4. Refining Stage: Five-Step Purification

Small plants may simplify the refining process; medium-to-large plants should implement the full process to maximize oil quality and yield.

1. Degumming – Remove phospholipids (water degumming), gum content ≤0.03%.

2. Neutralization – Alkali treatment to reduce free fatty acids, acid value ≤0.2 mg KOH/g (GB/T 1534-2003 Standard).

3. Decolorization – Adsorb pigments using activated clay, Lovibond color ≤Y15 R1.5.

4. Deodorization – Vacuum distillation removes odors, smoke point ≥215°C.

5. Dewaxing – Remove wax crystals (0.84%), improve clarity.

   • Equipment: Crystallization tank (0°C, 8h) + horizontal blade filter.

   • Innovation: No filter aid required; separated wax can be a valuable by-product.

5. Bottling and Packaging: Standardized Finished Products

• Filling Line: Fully automatic quantitative filler (accuracy ±0.5%), light-proof PET bottles or drums.

• Labeling: Indicate grade (GB/T 1534-2003), non-GMO, cold-pressed or hot-pressed.

• Safety: Dust-proof and anti-static production area; operators wear sterile clothing.

6. Production Efficiency and Staffing

Best Practices & Risk Management

• Efficiency:

  • Gravity-flow equipment layout reduces energy consumption by ~30%.

  • Efficient kernel-hull separation minimizes oil loss.

• Safety:

  • Explosion-proof design in solvent extraction areas.

  • Pulse dust collectors in powder zones prevent dust explosions.

• Quality Control:

  • Monitor acid value and peroxide value each shift; freeze test (0°C/5.5h) ensures no wax precipitation.

7. Investment Advice and Market Strategy

• Small Plants: Focus on cold-press for high-nutrition oil, targeting premium health oil market.

• Medium/Large Plants: Integrated pre-press + solvent extraction + full refining to maximize oil yield for volume production and export.

• Dewaxing Equipment: Accounts for ~25% of refining cost; plan accordingly.

• Market Focus: Asia consumes ~75% of global sunflower oil—key investment region.

The growing health edible oil market is waiting—partner with QIE Group for turnkey sunflower oil production lines and tailored equipment solutions. Start producing premium sunflower oil efficiently and sustainably today.