Question

During extraction of oil from oil seeds, the process of removal of mucilaginous material is termed as

• A. Tempering
• B. Bleaching
• C. Winterizing
• D. Degumming

Hint:

Remember that "gums" in crude oil refer to sticky, mucilaginous phospholipids and phosphatides.
Therefore, the process used to remove them is logically named "de-gumming."

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Crude vegetable oils extracted from oilseeds contain various non-glyceride impurities.
Among these, phospholipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and complex colloidal mucilaginous materials are collectively referred to as "gums."
Removing these colloidal materials is the essential first step in refining crude vegetable oils.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The process of removing these mucilaginous substances is known as degumming.
Phospholipids are classified into hydratable and non-hydratable phosphatides.
In water degumming, water is added to the crude oil, which hydrates the hydratable phosphatides.
Once hydrated, these compounds become insoluble in the oil and precipitate out as a sludge, which is then separated by centrifugation.
Non-hydratable phosphatides are typically removed by adding small amounts of food-grade food acids, such as phosphoric or citric acid.
If these gums are not removed, they can cause serious processing problems, including:
- Darkening of the oil color during high-temperature deodorization.
- Off-flavors and foaming during frying.
- Significant losses of neutral oil during subsequent refining steps.
Let us review the other terms to clarify the differences:
- Tempering refers to thermal conditioning of seeds before extraction.
- Bleaching is the adsorption process used to remove pigments.
- Winterizing is the crystallization process used to remove high-melting-point waxes and stearins.
Therefore, degumming is the correct term for removing mucilaginous materials.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The process of removing mucilaginous materials from crude oil is degumming.