Phase relations pertaining to the solvent winterization of cottonseed oil in hexane and in acetone-hexane mixtures

Summary

Systematic phase relation data pertaining to the solvent winterization behavior of a refined cottonseed oil have been obtained for two additional solvents; namely, commercial hexane and a mixed solvent consisting of 85% by weight of acetone and 15% of hexane. Graphs have been constructed to show the effect of oil-solvent ratio, chilling temperature, holding-time, and agitation on the percentage of solid removed, the degree of winterization and the settling qualities of the solid separating.

These data, with those previously reported for acetone (1), afford a basis for the selection of the optimum conditions and procedures in the application of solvent winterization to cottonseed oil and bring out the relative advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of the three solvents. The acetone-hexane mixture seems to combine the advantages and eliminate the disadvantages of either of these solvents alone.