What Are the Main Steps of a Sesame Oil Production Line?

Quick Process Map (from Seed to Bottle)

While recipes and equipment differ by product target (cold-pressed gourmet vs. refined edible oil), the sesame oil production line’s main steps typically include:

• Seed Intake and Pre-Cleaning
• Dehulling and Size Grading (optional by market)
• Drying/Tempering and Conditioning or Roasting
• Mechanical Pressing (cold press or hot press)
• Clarification and Filtration
• Solvent Extraction of Press Cake (optional, for maximum yield)
• Oil Refining (degumming, neutralization, bleaching, deodorization, winterization as needed)
• Polishing Filtration, Storage, and Packing
• By-product Handling (meal/cake), Utilities, and CIP

In Chinese-language searches, you may also see these terms: “芝麻油生产线制造商” (sesame oil production line manufacturer), “芝麻油生产线步骤” (sesame oil production line steps), and “芝麻油生产线的主要步骤” (the main steps of a sesame oil production line).

Step-by-Step: Inside a Modern Sesame Oil Plant

1) Seed Intake and Pre-Cleaning

Quality starts at the gate. A typical intake station includes a receiving pit, magnetic separator, scalper, and air aspirator to remove ferrous materials, stones, dust, and straw. Target foreign matter after cleaning: ≤0.5% by weight.

2) Dehulling and Size Grading (Optional)

Dehulling improves oil quality and reduces pigments and phospholipids. Depending on variety and customer preference, hull removal can be partial or full. Grading ensures uniform particle size for consistent heat and mass transfer downstream.

3) Drying and Tempering

Right moisture protects yield. Typical pre-press moisture setpoint for sesame: 5–7%. Continuous dryers (hot air or fluidized) followed by tempering bins stabilize moisture distribution and reduce press torque.

4) Conditioning or Roasting

For aromatic hot-pressed oil, roasting develops flavor precursors and lowers oil viscosity. Indicative parameters: 120–160°C for 20–40 minutes depending on seed type, moisture, and flavor profile. For cold-pressed premium oil, skip roasting and keep temperatures ≤45°C to protect volatiles and antioxidants.

5) Mechanical Pressing

Screw presses (single or twin) expel oil mechanically. Expected residual oil in cake after hot pressing: 8–12%; after cold pressing: 12–16%. Oil content of sesame seed is typically 45–55%, so multi-press or a press-then-extract configuration is common where maximum yield matters.

6) Clarification and Filtration

Fresh press oil contains fines, gums, and phosphatides. Decanter centrifuges, settling tanks, and pressure leaf filters/polishing filters reduce insolubles to <10 ppm before storage or refining. For cold-pressed gourmet grades, gentle filtration preserves color and aroma.

7) Solvent Extraction (Optional, for High Yield)

Where economics favor high recovery, press cake goes to a continuous extractor (e.g., Rotocel) using food-grade hexane. Typical residual oil in meal after extraction: ≤1%. Integrated DTDC (desolventizer-toaster-dryer-cooler) ensures safe solvent removal and meal quality.

8) Refining: From Crude to Edible

Refining sequence depends on target market and product label. Chemical refining is common; physical refining can be used for selected qualities.

• Degumming: Remove phospholipids (water, acid, or enzymatic), target P ≤ 10 ppm.
• Neutralization: Reduce free fatty acids (FAA), reach FFA ≤ 0.1–0.2% as oleic.
• Bleaching: Adsorb pigments and trace metals; manage color (e.g., Lovibond).
• Deodorization: Strip volatiles under vacuum (2–6 mbar) at 180–240°C depending on spec.
• Winterization (optional): Remove waxes for clear appearance in refrigeration.

9) Storage, Filling, and Packing

Nitrogen-blanketed storage tanks reduce oxidation. Inline polishing filters and plate heat exchangers maintain clarity. For retail, use high-barrier bottles (amber PET, glass) to protect aroma; for bulk, line flexi-tanks or drums to minimize oxygen ingress.

10) By-product Handling, Utilities, and CIP

Sesame meal (high-protein) is valuable for feed or food applications; quality depends on dehulling and toasting severity. Utilities—steam, power, chilled water, compressed air—and a validated CIP program underpin safe, efficient operations.

Typical Operating Data and Engineering Specs

Values below are indicative for feasibility and comparison. Final specs are tailored to seed origin, desired grade, and local utilities.

Choosing Your Process Path

Cost, TCO, and ROI: What Drives Your Budget

While every plant is unique, most sesame oil projects follow similar cost drivers. Without quoting specific numbers, here is where budgets typically go and how to optimize:

• Capacity and Scope: From pilot lines to multi-hall turnkey complexes with extraction and full refining.
• Materials and Hygiene Class: All-SS316 product contact and hygienic designs carry a premium but reduce contamination risk.
• Automation: PLC/SCADA, batch tracking, and recipe management reduce labor and waste.
• Utilities and Heat Integration: Recovering heat from deodorizer vapors and smart steam networks can materially cut OPEX.
• Upstream Seed Quality: Incoming foreign matter and moisture control can raise yield by multiple percentage points.
• OPEX Balance: Raw seeds often account for 80–90% of CoGS; energy, bleaching earth, caustic, and filters are the rest.
• Market Strategy: Cold-pressed gourmet SKUs achieve higher margins; refined bulk prioritizes throughput and yield.

QIE Group helps you map capex to payback by simulating yield vs. utility trade-offs, line speed, and SKU mix. We provide budgetary proposals fast so you can align equipment choices with sales forecasts and raw material variability.

Quality, Safety, and Compliance

• Food Safety: HACCP-ready layouts, hygienic piping, and validated CIP reduce cross-contamination risk.
• Regulatory: CE-marked equipment; electrical panels compliant with IEC and optional UL/NFPA designs.
• Traceability: Batch and lot tracking integrated with MES/ERP; sensor data archived for audits.
• Environmental: Solvent recovery sections, VOC control, and energy monitoring support ESG reporting.

Why QIE Group for Your Sesame Oil Production Line

As a dedicated sesame oil production line manufacturer, QIE Group delivers engineering-led, outcome-focused solutions:

• Process Expertise: 20+ years across seed cleaning, pressing, extraction, and refining.
• Global Projects: Installations in 30+ countries; factory acceptance testing (FAT) before shipment.
• Turnkey Delivery: 3D layout, P&IDs, utilities design, installation, commissioning, and operator training.
• Automation: PLC/SCADA with digital recipe management, historian, and remote diagnostics.
• Lifecycle Support: Spare parts, audits, capacity debottlenecking, and product switch-over services.

Whether you target cold-pressed premium oils or high-throughput refined segments, we configure the sesame oil production line steps to match quality specs and cost targets—without compromising safety or uptime.

FAQs

1) What yield should I expect from sesame seeds?

Sesame typically contains 45–55% oil. Hot pressing recovers most of the oil mechanically, leaving 8–12% in cake; cold pressing leaves more. Adding solvent extraction reduces residual oil to ≤1% for maximum overall yield.

2) Do I need dehulling for every market?

Not always. Dehulling improves color, flavor, and refining losses but adds equipment and handling. Gourmet cold-pressed oils often benefit; some hot-pressed markets accept partial or no dehulling if color specs allow.

3) Which is better: chemical or physical refining?

Chemical refining offers broad flexibility for sesame’s natural gums and pigments. Physical refining can be attractive for certain crude profiles and when minimizing chemical use is a priority. QIE Group can pilot both routes.

4) How do I protect aroma in cold-pressed sesame oil?

Keep process temperatures low, minimize oxygen pickup (nitrogen blanketing), use gentle filtration, and choose high-barrier packaging. Short residence times and cool storage preserve volatiles and antioxidants.

5) What utilities do I need for a mid-size line?

Plan for saturated steam (process and heating), electrical power (presses, drives, controls), cooling/chilled water (deodorizer and polishers), compressed air, and nitrogen for blanketing. QIE provides a utility balance for your capacity and climate.