Posted by Efficient removal of phospholipids is a critical step in vegetable oil refining, as these compounds negatively affect oil stability, flavor, and shelf life. Conventional chemical refining methods, while widely applied, remain costly and inefficient, generating significant oil losses through soapstock formation. Developing alternative degumming strategies that are both more effective and economically viable is therefore of major importance for the food and oil-processing industries
In this study, a novel degumming process is introduced based on polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) prepared with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as support, tributyl phosphate (TBP) as plasticizer, and a range of selective extractive agents, including cholic acid (CA), resorcinarene (RES), β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), dibenzo-18-crown-6 ether (CRW), gluconic acid (GA), and EDTA. These membranes enable the facilitated transport of transition metal ions (Ca2+, Mg2+, Fe3+) while mediating controlled water permeation into the oil phase, thereby promoting phospholipid hydration and liposome formation for removal by centrifugation or decantation. Membranes were characterized in terms of morphology, porosity, and chemical composition, and their transport behavior was analyzed using kinetic and thermodynamic models. Parameters such as permeability (P), initial flux (J0), association constants (Kass), diffusion coefficients (D∗), and transition-state functions (Ea, ΔH#, ΔS#) were determined, confirming a mechanistic model based on successive ion “hops” across extractive agent sites within the PVA matrix. Among the tested agents, β-CD and EDTA exhibited the highest efficiency, reducing phosphorus levels in crude soybean oil to acceptable values under optimized conditions. This membrane-based approach combines high extraction efficiency with reduced chemical use, lower energy demand, and minimized waste generation. The results demonstrate both the mechanistic basis and practical feasibility of PIMs as a cost-effective, environmentally friendly alternative to conventional degumming in edible oil refining.
Habib Mouadili, Oussama Kamal, Said Khoudali, Khadija Jihar, Mohamed Amine Dabachi, Abera Demeke Ambaye, Sigwadi Rudzani, Ledwaba Kabelo, Abed Mennad, Touhami Mokrani (2026) Novel membrane process for degumming of crude vegetable oils. Journal of Food Engineering 415, 113065. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2026.113065.