Mustard (Brassica juncea) is a highly nutritious crop with abundant mineral content and high-quality edible oil. The cultivation of mustard seeds, which have an average oil content of 38.3 %, is widely popular for the edible oil production. Mustard oil, renowned for its nutritional value and fatty acid composition including oleic acid (C18:1), linoleic acid (C18:2), erucic acid (C22:1) and alpha linolenic acid (C18:3) holds a prominent position as a primary edible oil in various global cuisines. Its beneficial effects on cardiovascular health, skin health and anti-inflammatory properties contribute to its increasing demand. All of the aforementioned factors have led to an increase popularity for this oil.

Processing mustard oil from seed involves several steps. Mechanical extraction (milling) and solvent extraction are the most used techniques for obtaining vegetable oil. Here’s a detailed overview of the process: –

Seed Cleaning and Sorting:

The process begins with cleaning and sorting the mustard seeds. This step involves removing any debris, dirt, or foreign particles from the seeds. The cleaned seeds are then sorted to eliminate damaged or discolored seeds, ensuring only high-quality seeds are used for oil extraction.

Seed Conditioning: Once the seeds are cleaned and sorted, they may undergo conditioning to optimize the oil extraction process. Conditioning can involve heating the seeds to a specific temperature or adjusting their moisture content to facilitate oil extraction.

Seed Crushing or Grinding: The cleaned and conditioned mustard seeds are then crushed or ground to produce a coarse powder or paste. This grinding process helps break down the seeds and releases the oil trapped within them.

Oil Extraction: There are different methods for extracting oil from mustard seeds, including cold pressing, expeller pressing, and solvent extraction.

Cold Pressing: In cold pressing, the ground mustard seeds are pressed mechanically at low temperatures (usually below 120°F or 49°C) to extract the oil. This method helps retain the natural flavor, aroma, and nutritional properties of the oil.

Expeller Pressing:

Expeller pressing involves using a mechanical press (expeller) to squeeze the oil out of the seeds. The seeds are fed into the expeller, where they are gradually compressed to extract the oil.

Oil Filtration: The extracted mustard oil may contain impurities, solids, or sediments. To produce clear and pure oil, it undergoes filtration. Filtration involves passing the oil through various filters to remove any remaining solids, impurities, or unwanted particles.

Solvent Extraction:

Solvent extraction is a more industrialized method that involves using chemical solvents such as hexane to extract oil from the seeds. This method is efficient but may result in some loss of flavor and nutrients.

Clarification and Refining:

Depending on the desired quality and purity level, the oil may undergo further clarification and refining processes. These processes help remove any remaining impurities, odor, or taste, resulting in a more refined and stable oil.

Degumming:                                   

If the oil contains gums or phospholipids, it may undergo degumming to remove these substances. Degumming involves treating the oil with water or an acid solution to precipitate the gums, which are then removed through centrifugation or filtration.

Bleaching:

The degummed oil is then bleached with Bleaching earth & activated carbon to reduce the color of oil. The mixture of Oil & Earth is then Filtered with the help of Vertical Pressure Leaf filter & finally sent to Deodorizing section.

Deodorization:

To remove any remaining odors or flavors, the oil may undergo deodorization. Deodorization involves heating the oil under vacuum at high temperatures to remove volatile compounds responsible for off-flavors and odors.

If you have any queries or need more information about Edible oil refinery plants, solvent extraction plants or oil expeller plants feel free to contact us.