Process for obtaining corn oil from corn germ

A process for extracting a high quality corn oil from wet corn germ obtained from the corn wet-milling process, which requires only mild refining to produce an edible oil, comprising the steps of:

• (a) milling the wet corn germ at a pH of from about 3 to about 4 and at a temperature of less than about 50.degree. C. until at least about 80% of the germ is reduced to a particle size of less than 160 microns with at least the final stage of the milling operation being conducted in an aqueous slurry containing from about 10% to about 25% solids on a dry solids basis;
• (b) diluting the aqueous slurry with water if necessary to bring the dry solids content to less than about 17%;
• (c) promptly subjecting the slurry to leaching forces sufficient to separate the slurry into a solid phase and a liquid phase containing substantially all of the oil;
• and
• (d) promptly separating the oil from the liquid phase.