Lecithin for Food and Industrial Applications

Introduction

 

Commercial lecithin is an important by-product of vegetable oil processing obtained during degumming step. The major commercial source for lecithin is soybean. Lecithin has potential as a multifunctional additive for food, pharmaceutical and industrial applications. Wet gums obtained during degumming step require immediate processing as they have a high content of moisture and decompose within a few hours. The wet gums are dried and quickly cooled to obtain dark colored lecithin. Bleaching is necessary for most of the lecithin applications.

 

CSIR-IICT has developed process for food and industrial-grade lecithin from soybean gums.

Bleached Lecithin has a variety of applications. It is used as an emulsifier, anti-spattering agent in margarine, confections and snack foods; wetting and dispersing agent in instant foods such as cocoa powder, drinks, coffee whiteners; browning agent and phosphate dispersant in meat and poultry processing; dispersing or mixing aid, plasticizer, anti-oxidant emulsifier or surfactant in adhesives, ceramics and glass, textiles, dyes, paints and other coatings, paper, inks, magnetic tapes, printing.

 

Major Raw Materials

 

Crude soybean oil gums, bleaching agent, Hexane.

 

Brief Process Description

 

Commercial soybean lecithin usually possess a color of 18+ units on Gardner scale. The present process involves a pre-treatment followed by bleaching with bleaching agent to obtain lecithin with a color of 12 units.

 

Scale of Demonstration

 

1kg crude gums / batch.

 

Product Specifications

 

Color, 12 (Gardner scale) ; Acid Value, 20-25; Peroxide Value, 2 -

 

By-products: Nil

 

Status of Commercialization

 

Process Know-how for Food grade soyalecithin was transferred to two Indian industries at 1 kg scale

 

Major Plant Equipment and Machinery Required

 

STR Reactor, Vacuum systems

 

IPR: Indian patent filed - 2892 DEL (2014)

 

For further information please contact

 

CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology
Uppal Road, Tarnaka,
Hyderabad - 500 007
Phone: +91-40-21791623
E-mail: aau@iict.res.in