What is Solvent Extraction in Oil Processing?

Solvent extraction is an industrial oil recovery method that uses a solvent, commonly hexane, to dissolve oil from oilseed flakes or meals. Compared to mechanical pressing, the oil solvent extraction process achieves a higher oil yield — often over 99% — making it essential for seeds with low oil content or when maximum extraction efficiency is required.

Vos offers a high-efficiency solvent extraction line designed to maximize oil yield and quality from a wide range of oilseeds including soybeans, sunflower seeds, peanuts, rapeseeds, cottonseeds, and sesame seeds. Our turnkey oil solvent extraction equipment integrates advanced technology, ensuring stable operation, energy savings, and environmental compliance for edible oil manufacturers worldwide.

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Core Equipment in a Vos Solvent Extraction Line

Rotocel Extractor
The heart of the line, the rotocel extractor continuously feeds oilseed flakes into solvent, efficiently dissolving the oil. Its modular design allows easy maintenance and flexible capacity adjustments, suitable for processing 30 to 300 TPD (tons per day).

Chain Extractor
An alternative extraction system, the chain extractor uses a chain conveyor moving material through multiple solvent baths, ideal for specific seed types and processing scales.

Desolventizer-Toaster (DT)
Removes residual solvent from the extracted meal and toasts it, improving its nutritional value when used as animal feed.

Miscella Evaporator
Separates solvent from the oil-solvent mixture (miscella) via evaporation, recovering solvent for reuse and preparing crude oil for refining.

Steam Stripping Tower
Removes trace solvent from crude oil through steam treatment, ensuring the oil meets safety and quality standards.

Vacuum Dryer
Dries the desolventized meal to target moisture content, preventing spoilage during storage or further processing.

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Advantages of Vos Solvent Extraction Lines

High oil recovery rate reaching up to 99%, maximizing raw material value.

Automated control system for safe, stable, and efficient operation.

Energy-efficient design reducing operational costs and environmental impact.

Modular and scalable equipment customizable for capacities from 30 TPD to 300 TPD or more.

Comprehensive solvent recovery and emission control to meet environmental regulations.

Suitable for various oilseeds, enabling flexible production lines.

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Suitable Raw Materials for Solvent Extraction

Raw Material	Oil Content		Raw Material	Oil Content
Soybeans	16–20%		Rapeseeds	35–45%
Sunflower Seeds	38–45%		Cottonseeds	16–22%
Peanuts / Groundnuts	42–50%		Sesame Seeds	40–50%
Rice Bran and others	—

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the difference between solvent extraction and mechanical pressing?
A: Mechanical pressing physically squeezes oil from seeds but usually achieves lower oil recovery. Solvent extraction dissolves residual oil using solvents, yielding higher extraction rates, especially for low oil-content seeds.

Q: Is solvent extraction safe for food-grade oil?
A: Yes, solvent extraction lines include solvent recovery and stripping steps that remove residual solvents, ensuring edible oil meets food safety standards.

Q: Can Vos solvent extraction lines be customized?
A: Absolutely. We tailor equipment size and configuration based on your raw materials, processing capacity, and budget.