Degumming of corn oil/hexane miscella using a ceramic membrane

The aim of the present study was to investigate the degumming (removal of phospholipids) of crude oil/hexane miscella, using an alumina multichannel ceramic membrane with an average pore diameter of 0.05 μm. The influence of transmembrane pressure (TMP) (0.5 and 1.5 bar), tangential velocity (v) (1.4 and 2.4 m s−1) and percentage of corn oil on the miscella (25% and 35% w/w), in terms of the permeate flux and removal of phospholipids, were investigated. A phospholipid removal of between 65% and 93.5% was achieved, resulting in a minimum phosphorus content in the permeate of 23 mg kg−1 and a reduction in color and waxes, besides the conservation of tocopherols and tocotrienols in the crude oil. A raised TMP and a greater percentage of oil in the miscella had a positive effect on the retention of phosphorus, while the tangential velocity had a negative influence. Under the best operational conditions used the permeate flux reached 120 kg h−1 m−2, at 40 °C.