I know most everyone says the ethanol to oil ratio for winterization is 10:1. Is there any specific reason for this beside maybe that it allows for a less thick slurry when filtering. Does the winterization process do better, work faster with more ethanol?
And what is the actual temperature range you can winterize. -20c seems a litle cold when sunflower and palm oil guys maybe go down to 0c. Other than speeding it up does it create bigger crystals even if I were to extend the time with a lower time.
10:1 is the safe ratio, none of the variables being known.
I’ve had success between 5:1 - 10:1. Much higher than 10:1 and you might not hit supersaturation/cold crash ability. Lower than 5:1 and it might not flow through the filter.
As for temps, I like to do a room temp crash and filter, then 0c, then take a small sample and chill it to -20c ish, filter, see if the whole batch needs to be done this cold or not
Our goal is to winterize large batches in jacketed with slow agitation then put it through a filter press. We want to keep the ratio down to limit the ethanol needed to be recovered so we can have a higher extraction throughput. Our extraction will be equivalent to a 2 or 3 wash concentrate.
I typically start at 10:1, and work my way down to 5:1 when running trials for big batches. Very consistently, less than 5:1 is not a great idea. I’ve never gone more than 10:1 though
Winterizing BHO crude I’ve always had a happy medium around 7or8:1 when pushing through a filter press. Do you already have the press? Post a pic of the press and I can give you a rec on how to prep it.
Don’t have the press yet. We are working throughput numbers to size it right. It will be at least a 800mm size if not more. Our plant is very ambitious in size.
Ah, you’re getting a big boy, that’s a whole different animal. You’ll definitely want some level of automation and a dewatering system for a machine that large.
