Oils & Fats modification

At Desmet, we design installations to transform a wide variety of oils and fats into fit-for-purpose food ingredients. Like all our edible oil processing technologies, the proprietary oil modification technologies are continuously reconceived and improved to deliver higher product quality at the best possible yield, while minimizing operational costs and carbon footprint.

Fat modification

Full process

In the industry, three principal modification processes are used to transform refined oil and fat into modified oil and fat:

  • Fractionation is a purely physical process that separates fat into a more solid and a more liquid fraction.
  • Interesterification redistributes fatty acids across triglycerides, chemically ‘blending’ the properties of different oils using a catalyst.
  • Hydrogenation eliminates unsaturation in the oil by bonding hydrogen gas to the double bonds, aided by a solid catalyst, resulting in a much harder fat.

Our more contemporary processes, such as enzymatic interesterification and specialty fats fractionation, boast a much ‘greener’ image due to their safer, more sustainable, and efficient operation, which eliminates chemicals and requires milder process conditions.

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Advantages

Desmet's oils and fats modification processes provide numerous advantages.

Quality

Compliant with all food safety, customer, and functional quality requirements.

Operational efficiency

For minimal operation costs.

Ecological

Operate with the least environmental load.

Sustainable

A greener image due to safer, more sustainable, and efficient operations.

User-Friendly

Simplified daily use for operators by means of advanced automation.

Integration

Seamless integration of various technologies within one processing plant.

Raw materials

Our oils and fats modification processes are designed to handle a variety of raw materials, including palm oil, palm kernel oil, soft oils and specialty tropical fats, but also animal fats such as fish oil and tallow fat. These raw materials are processed using our advanced modification technologies to meet diverse customer and market requirements.

Other oils

Desmet - Raw material animal fats

Animal fats

Palm Kernal Oil

Palm kernel oil

Palm Oil

Palm oil

Key proprietary equipment

Our advanced technologies for modifying oils and fats include proprietary crystallizers and customized filter press designs. This state-of-the-art equipment is designed to ensure optimal performance, delivering the highest product quality, operational efficiency, and sustainability in every step of the process, for each and every project.

Crystallizer

Crystallizer

Desmet’s crystallizers lead the industry, offering excellent heat transfer, low shear on fat crystals, energy efficiency, and customized automation.

Filter press

Filter press

Membrane press filters are essential in fats and oils fractionation, enhancing purity and yields. Desmet uses its extensive experience and know-how to completely customize and assemble membrane filter presses, ensuring the optimal performance of the fractionation plant.

HY

Hydrogenator

Desmet hydrogenators offer high gas transfer rates, efficient heat recovery, and optimized catalyst removal, ensuring fast, reliable, and safe hydrogenation processes.

Desmet signature iConFrac continuous fractionation technology

Introducing a game-changing continuous crystallization technology. This state-of-the-art solution delivers higher efficiency, reduced environmental impact, greater ease of use, and a broader range of applications compared to conventional batch crystallizers. With this innovation, Desmet sets new industry standards for both commodity oils and specialty fats.

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Our services

With a focus on cutting-edge technology, high-quality components, and comprehensive on-site support, our service teams ensure optimized plant performance and minimized operational disruptions.

Plant automation

Enhance efficiency and control with our plant automation solutions, ensuring seamless integration and optimal performance for your operations.

Replacement parts

Ensure reliability and longevity with our high-quality replacement parts, designed to maintain and enhance your plant's productivity.

Site services

Maximize uptime and operational efficiency with our on-site services, gaining expert support and maintenance tailored to your needs.

R&D and Innovation

Enhance processes and technologies to address and anticipate market challenges and trends, for more quality output and performance.

Talk to our experts

Looking to invest in a better future? As an experienced and innovation-driven plant designer, we can deliver the technologies for you to create quality food, feed and biofuel. Our teams of experts are happy to help you with any question.

Contact us