The present invention provides certain improvements in methods for
processing vegetable oils and apparatus for carrying out such methods.
One embodiment provides a method for processing a partially processed oil
including glycerides and a volatilizable impurity fraction. The partially
processed oil may processed by driving off a first volatiles stream
comprising a portion of the glycerides and at least a portion of the
volatilizable impurity fraction, leaving a deodorized oil. The first
volatiles stream may be introduced into a first condensing chamber and a
glyceride-rich, impurity-poor first condensate may be condensed from the
first volatiles stream, leaving a glyceride-poor, impurity-rich second
volatiles stream. The second volatiles stream may be passed into a second
condensing chamber and a glyceride-poor, impurity-rich second condensate
may be condensed from the second volatiles stream.