Handbook of Solvents - George Wypych - ChemTech - Ventech!

14.10 Food industry 947
problems in Europe, particularly in the UK. 40 Europe, 41 Japan, Korea, and Australia/New
Zealand already have some restrictions and require some labeling. The U.S. is reviewing the
issue. 42 Thus even though this technology has great promise for increased use of new and
existing solvents for extraction of products from diverse biological materials, there are also
many potential problems because of misperceptions and misinformation.
In the U.S. EPA is developing Maximum Available Control Technology (MACT)
standards for vegetable oil processing that are likely to be finalized in 2001 (see Section
14.10.2.2.1, Hazardous Air Pollutants), with enforcement three years after promulgation.
16,17 Commercial hexane, which is a HAP and a VOC, is presently the solvent used. 16,17
To meet new and existing CAA requirements it is likely that extraction facilities will become
much more efficient chemical engineering operations with upgraded equipment, 43
more computerized monitoring and control for better quality management, 44 and better environmental
management/stewardship. 19 In addition it is possible that alternate solvents
(e.g., isohexane 3,7,45 ) or lower n-hexane content commercial hexane (30-50% vs. 64%) will
be used to meet these regulations. It is also possible that solvents like acetone, which is not a
HAP or VOC and is not on the TRI list, will be more strongly investigated. 16,17,46
In Europe trans fatty acid labeling of retail foods is required and in the U.S. FDA has
proposed to label trans fats as saturated fat on the nutrition labeling panel required on packaged
food sold at retail (64 FR 62,764; Nov. 17, 1999). This regulation if, promulgated as
proposed, will result in reformulation of many products that could affect the vegetable oil
producing and extracting industries.
It is clear that the future has much uncertainty, while at the same time it offers much
promise. It appears that there will be many potential changes that will put new demands on
extraction solvents. Solvents that are more environmentally friendly, are nontoxic to plants,
workers, and consumers, have specialized properties, have high solvent power at low temperatures
(are easy to desolventize), etc., may have wider potential use in conventional extraction
as well as specialized niche markets.
REFERENCES
1 Technology and Solvents for Extracting Oilseeds and Non-petroleum Oils, P.J. Wan and P.J. Wakelyn,
Eds., AOCS Press, Champagne, IL, 1997.
2 M.A. Williams and R.J. Hron, Bailey’s Industrial Oils and Fat Products, 5th edn., Vol. 4: Edible Oil and
Fat Products: Processing Technology, Y.H Hui,., Ed., John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1996, p. 119.
3 P.J. Wan, Hydrocarbon Solvents, in Technology and Solvents for Extracting Oilseeds and Non-petroleum
Oils, P.J. Wan and P.J. Wakelyn, Eds., AOCS Press, Champaign, IL, 1997, p.170-185.
4 R.J. Hron, Acetone, inIbid, p.186-191.
5 R.J. Hron, Ethanol, inIbid, p.192-197.
6 E.W. Lucas and E. Hernandez, Isopropyl Alcohol, inIbid, p. 199-266.
7 P.J. Wan, R.J. Hron, M.K. Dowd, M.S. Kuk, and E.J. Conkerton, J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc., 72, 661 (1995).
8 Occupational Health and Safety Administration Field Operations Manual, Chapter IV: Violations, C. Health
Standards Violations, (OSHA Instruction 2.45B CH-4, Dec.13, 1993), The Bureau of National Affairs,
Washington, DC, 1994, pp. 77:2513-18.
9 Occupational Health and Safety Administration Technical Manual, Section I- Sampling, Measurement
Methods, and Instruments, Chapter 1 - Personal Sampling for Air Contaminants, Appendix I:1-6. Sampling
and Analytical Errors (SAEs) (Issued by OSHA Instruction TED 1.15, September 22, 1995; amended by
OSHA Instruction TED 1.15 CH-1, May 24, 1996).
10 1997 TLVs and BEIs, Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents and Biological
Exposure Indices, The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, Cincinnati, OH, 1997,
pp. 12-40.
11 J.B Galvin, C.J. Kirwin, D.W. Kelly, INFORM, 6(8), 951 (1995).
12 H.H. Schaumberg and P.S. Spencer, Brain, 99, 183 (1976).