🌾 RAPESEED / CANOLA SEED CRUSHING PLANT – COMPLETE DETAILS
🔹 1. Seed Intake, Cleaning & Storage
Raw Seed Procurement: From farmers or traders.
Cleaning & De-stoning:
Removal of dust, stones, and foreign materials.
Magnetic separators may be used for metallic objects.
Drying:
Reduces moisture to ~7-9% to avoid mold or processing issues.
Storage Silos:
Temperature-controlled steel bins or warehouses.
🔹 2. Seed Preparation
Dehulling (optional): Removes seed hull to reduce fiber and improve oil yield.
Cracking & Flaking:
Seeds are crushed and rolled into thin flakes.
Conditioning/Cooking:
Flakes are heated (60–80°C) to coagulate proteins, aid oil extraction, and deactivate enzymes.
🔹 3. Oil Extraction
✅ Mechanical Pressing
Oil is extracted using screw presses (expellers).
Leaves behind partially defatted cake.
✅ Solvent Extraction (Hexane)
Common in large-scale plants.
Uses hexane solvent to extract nearly all oil from flakes or press cake.
Solvent is later recovered using desolventizer toaster and evaporators.
🔹 4. Crude Oil Processing
Degumming: Removes phospholipids.
Neutralization: Removes free fatty acids (FFA).
Bleaching: Removes color pigments and impurities.
Deodorization: Uses steam to remove odor and improve shelf life.
Winterization (for cold climates): Prevents waxes from crystallizing in refrigerated storage.
🔹 5. Meal (Canola Cake) Processing
Desolventizing-Toasting: Removes solvent residue and reduces anti-nutritional factors.
Drying & Cooling: Stabilizes product for storage.
Grinding & Packaging: Sold as high-protein animal feed (up to 38–42% protein).
🔹 6. By-Products & Utilization
Lecithin (optional): Extracted during degumming.
Gums, Sludge, Soapstock: Can be used for industrial oils, soaps, and detergents.
Spent Hulls: Used as biomass fuel or cattle feed.
🔹 7. Packaging & Distribution
Refined Canola Oil: Packed in bottles (500ml–5L), jerry cans, drums, or tankers.
Canola Meal: Packed in 25/50kg PP or jute bags for feed mills.
Bulk Loading Systems: For industrial or export customers.
🔹 8. Quality Control & Certifications
Oil Quality Testing:
Moisture, FFA %, peroxide value, color, flavor.
Meal Testing:
Protein content, fiber, moisture, glucosinolate levels.
Certifications:
ISO 22000 / HACCP / GMP / FSSAI / USDA Organic / Halal
🔹 9. Key Equipment Used
Seed Cleaner & Grader
Flaker & Cracker
Cooker-Conditioner
Oil Expeller Press
Solvent Extraction Unit (optional)
Oil Refinery Plant (Batch/Continuous)
Filter Press or Centrifuge
Desolventizer-Toaster (for meal)
Packing Machines (bottle filling, labeling)
🔹 10. Plant Capacity Examples
| Plant Size | Seed Input/Day | Oil Output | Meal Output | Space Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small (1-2 TPD) | 1–2 tons | 300–600 L | 700–1,400 kg | 800–1200 sq.ft |
| Medium (10 TPD) | 10 tons | ~3,500 L | ~7.5 tons | 3,000–5,000 sq.ft |
| Large (50+ TPD) | 50 tons | ~17,500 L | ~37 tons | 10,000+ sq.ft |
🔹 11. Services Offered by Such Plants
Custom Oil Milling / Contract Crushing
Private Label Oil Packaging
Canola Meal Supply for Feed Producers
Bulk Export of Refined Canola Oil
R&D Services for Oil Blending or Fortification
Consulting / Turnkey Plant Setup
✅ Business Potential:
Edible oil market (refined canola oil)
Protein-rich animal feed export
Industrial bio-oil/biodiesel supply
Agro-processing & value chain development