REFINING OF EDIBLE OIL RICH IN NATURAL CAROTENES AND VITAMINE

摘要

8 The invention discloses a process for the production of a natural carotene rich refined and deodorised oil by subjecting the oil to a pressure of less than 0.060 mbar a nd to a temperature of less than 200.degree.C and wherein the process includes the steps of distilling t he oil in a short-path distiller at a temperature range of 160.degree.C-210.degree.C and at pressures of 0.003 mba r to 0.08 mbar and removing free fatty acids (FFA) in the oil by condensation within the distiller. The FFA i s removed by subjecting the mixture of the oil and the FFA to an internal condensor system operating at a temperature greater than the melting point of FFA in the oil. The process yields in refined, deodorised oil, in particular palm oil where the carotene and Vitamin E contained the feed oil is substantially retained in the processed oil.