Recent research led by Aditya Kurniawan from the Department of Chemical Engineering at UPN “Veteran” Yogyakarta has unveiled a significant advancement in the design of stirred batch reactors for the degumming of crude palm oil (CPO). This study, published in the journal “Results in Engineering,” addresses a critical challenge in scaling up the degumming process, which is essential for refining edible oils.
Degumming is a process that removes phospholipids and other impurities from crude oils, improving their quality and making them suitable for consumption. Traditionally, scaling up this process from laboratory conditions to industrial applications has relied on geometric similarity, a method that often fails when different reactor shapes are involved. Kurniawan’s research introduces a more effective approach, focusing on the efficiency of the degumming process itself as the key similarity criterion.
The study utilized a combination of laboratory experiments and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. By modeling how fluids behave in both a small-scale triple-neck round vessel and a larger flat-bottom stirred tank reactor, the team was able to predict how gum concentration changes during the degumming process. They found that maintaining a minimum impeller speed of 93 rpm in the larger reactor could replicate the optimal degumming efficiency observed at 500 rpm in the smaller setup.
Kurniawan noted the importance of these findings, stating, “This research demonstrates that degumming efficiency in a laboratory triple-neck round vessel can be numerically reproduced in a larger flat-bottom stirred tank reactor.” The strong correlation found between the modeled and empirical data indicates a successful scale-up, with an impressive R² value of 0.963.
The implications of this research extend beyond the food industry. Efficient degumming processes can lead to improved oil quality, which is crucial for various sectors, including biofuel production. As the energy sector increasingly looks for sustainable and high-quality feedstocks, the ability to scale up degumming processes effectively opens new avenues for commercial opportunities. The findings could help oil producers enhance their production efficiency, reduce waste, and ultimately lower costs.
This innovative approach to reactor design not only paves the way for more efficient oil processing but also highlights the growing importance of advanced engineering techniques, such as CFD, in optimizing industrial processes. As the industry continues to evolve, Kurniawan’s work stands as a testament to the potential for improved methodologies in chemical engineering, contributing to both economic and environmental sustainability.
