Stripping process for reduction of GEs and 3-MCPD esters from edible oils

A method for removing contaminants, including glycidyl fatty acid esters (GEs) and/or 3-monochloropropane diol (3-MCPDs) esters, from edible fats and oils, the method comprising:

• providing a vertical short path stripper (SPS) configured to pre-heat an edible oil to a temperature between about 100° C. and about 200° C., wherein the SPS comprises:
• (a) a heat exchange fluid entry point, a heat exchange fluid exit point and a heat exchange fluid circuit in fluid communication between the heat exchange fluid entry point and the heat exchange fluid exit point;
• (b) an alternating series of tubular heating jackets and discs thermally coupled to the heat exchange fluid circuit, wherein the jackets and discs are vertically and spatially separated from each other;
• and
• (c) an internal condenser having a surface and extending vertically through the body of the SPS;
• introducing edible oil that includes contaminants to a top of the SPS, thereby creating a downward flowing edible oil stream in the SPS;
• supplying a heat exchange fluid at about 150° C. to about 250° C. to the heat exchange fluid entry point and causing the heat exchange fluid to flow through the heat exchange fluid circuit, thereby heating the jackets and making the series of jackets relatively warm and the discs relatively cool;
• cooling the internal condenser to a temperature lower than a temperature of the series of jackets;
• flowing the edible oil progressively through the alternating series of relatively warm jackets and relatively cool discs, thereby creating a free falling film on internal surfaces of the jackets, which film is continuously refreshed by falling from one of the jackets onto a next lower disc surface and there reformed;
• establishing an at least partial vacuum of about 0.01 to about 0.1 Torr within the SPS, thereby providing a first driving force to separate the contaminants from the downward flowing edible oil stream;
• wherein the first driving force and the flowing of the edible oil progressively through the alternating series of relatively warm jackets and relatively cool discs creates a heated vapor comprising contaminants from the downward flowing edible oil stream;
• causing the heated vapor to travel, as a vapor, a predetermined distance, no greater than about one mean free path (MFP), before contacting the internal condenser;
• condensing the vapor onto the surface of the internal condenser to form a condensate;
• forming a waste stream of the condensate;
• removing the waste stream by causing the condensate to drip down as a film on the surface of the inner condenser and leave the SPS as a distilled contaminant;
• causing the edible oil, depleted of contaminant, to exit the SPS through a separate connection from the condensate;
• and
• cooling the edible oil that exits the SPS;
• wherein the cooling the internal condenser provides a second driving force to condense contaminants remaining in the edible oil.