The process for soybeans typically consists of five steps: oilseed handling/elevator operations, preparation of soybeans for solvent extraction, solvent extraction and oil desolventizing, flake desolventizing, and oil refining.
How is soybean oil extracted?
Finally, the heated, cracked beans are conveyed and fed to smooth, cylindrical rolls that press the particles into smooth "flakes", which vary in thickness from approximately 0.25 to 0.51 millimeters (0.010 to 0.020 inches). Flaking allows the soybean oil cells to be exposed and the oil to be more easily extracted.
How is crude oil produced in a soybean crushing plant?
The crude oil is usually water degummed in the crushing plant which generates an additional flow, consisting of gums (or lecithin). Table 1 presents the main quality parameters (optimal contents) of the major products from soybean crushing.
Which process describes only soybean oil manufacture?
The following process description discusses only soybean oil manufacture, because emission factors are available only for that activity. Corn, cottonseed, and peanut oil processing are similar to soybean processing, except for differences in the soybean preparation for oil extraction.