Lecithin Drying using our Wiped Film Systems

Lecithin is heat sensitive, hydroscopic, and viscous.  Effective heat and mass transfer must be achieved while avoiding heat degradation and coloring during lecithin drying.  The short residence time during lecithin drying that is provided by either our horizontal or vertical wiped film systems deliver the best conditions to gently dry lecithin to the low levels required.

Lecithin is a phosphatide derived from soybean, corn, sunflower and other vegetable and seed oils.  It is used extensively as an emulsifier in foods, chewing gum, textiles, cosmetics, candy, plastics, pharmaceuticals, soaps, and rubber.

Commercial Lecithin is light yellow to brown in color, depending on whether it has been bleached.  It should be nearly odorless and have a neutral taste. 

Lecithin darkens when it is processed above 80 degrees Centigrade and in some countries, bleaching is not allowed.  We implement our agitated thin film lecithin drying systems to reach the mandatory 0.5% moisture limit without darkening.

Lecithin drying is accomplished with our vertical wiped film dryers which are operated at 110-120 degrees Centigrade and are followed by product bleaching to attain the required color standards.

Our Lecithin Drying and Cooling Systems Advantages:

• Short processing time eliminates degradation

• Superior color

• Automated operation

• Acceptable product for use in all food and other products

• Highly efficient operation

• No fouling

• Flexible operation over a broad production capacity range

• Short payback time

• Limited space requirements

• Flexible for lecithin derived from soybean, rape seeds, sunflowers, etc.

Lecithin drying process system design is carried out with our experienced team of engineers to first evaluate your specific requirements and then design and provide a productive and profitable working system to match your needs.

We also implement our WFE and SPD technologies for the pharmaceutical, chemical, food, polymer, nuclear, agricultural, petroleum, nutraceutical industries in applications including those shown below:

Acetic Acid Amines and Amides Antibiotics Biopolymers Capsicum Carotin DMSO Egg Enzymes Esters Fatty Acids Fermentation Broth Fermentation Extracts Fish Oil Fruit purees Glycerine or Glycerol Herbicides Juices Lactic Acid Lanolin or Lanoline Lecithin Lubricants Lycopene Milk

Monoglyceride Monomers Nylons Oil rerefining Omega 3 Fatty Acid Organic Intermediates Paint Residues Pesticide Removal Polydextrose Polyethemide Polymers Polyphenol Polysulfone Polyurethane Intermediates Saw Palmetto Extract Solvents Sulfolane Sweeteners Silicone Terpenes Tocopherols Triglycerides Wax API

Wiped-Film Evaporators (WFE), Agitated Thin-Film Evaporators (TFE), Short-Path Evaporators (SPD) Photos