Degumming is a process, which removes phospholipids because they are not

desirable for biodiesel production. The presence of phospholipids in oil may

cause oil to settle out during shipping and storage.
TECHNOLO
GY
WATER
DEGUMMIN
G

ACID
DEGUMMIN
G

ENZYMES
DEGUMMIN
G

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES

Hot water or steam is injected

into hot oil and mixed for 3060minutes. Phospholipids
absorb water, lose lipophilic
character and agglomerate
into a gum phase. Gum is
separated by centrifugation.
Addition of acid into oil at
40-55 . Acids convert
non-hydratable phosphatides
to hydratable phosphatides.
Subsequent steps similar to
water degumming.

Simple and
established process

Requires centrifugation,
cost high
Requires hot water or steam

Removes nonhydratable
phospholipids
Simple and
established process

Addition of certain acids

will form soap, which may
not be suitable for
downstream processing

Phospholipase are used to

hydrolyze ester bonds of
phospholipids. Hydrophilic
and insoluble phospholipids
are released from glyceride
backbone of phospholipids
and are separated by
centrifugation.

Minimizes oil
Enzymes cost are high
entrained in the gum, Enzymes for degumming
resulting in
are currently unstable
improved oil yields
Utilises less water
than water and acid
degumming
processes

http://old.iupac.org/symposia/proceedings/Tunis04/logan_andrew.pdf
The chosen technology is acid degumming because the lipids from Chlamydomonas
reinhardtii consist of non-hydratable phospholipids.