Westfalia Separator

Mechanical Separation
Industry
Division

Process Stages, Systems and

Equipment for the Recovery
of Virgin Coconut Oil

Virgin Coconut Oil can only be

achieved by using fresh coconut
meat or what is called non-copra.
Chemicals and high heating are
not used in further refining, since
the natural, pure coconut oil is
very stable with a shelf life of
several years.
Wet-milling is the main process
for manufacturing Virgin Coconut
Oil: With this method the oil is
extracted from fresh coconut meat
without drying first. "Coconut
milk" is expressed first by pressing.
The oil is then further separated
from the water. Methods which
can be used to separate the oil
from the water include boiling,
fermentation, refrigeration,
enzymes and mechanical
centrifuge.
VCO - Continuous Process

Fresh Coconut Milk

Vibrating screen The fresh undiluted coconut milk (santan) is

separated at room temperature 32 - 35ºC. The
Pre-heating oil content is up to 35% in the feed to the first
separator stage.
In case of running 2-stage separation , it is
Separator
important to have minimum of 60% free oil in
the feed to the 2nd stage.
Cream
Based on trials a 75-80% oil recovery which is
equivalent to 27-28% of santan can be achieved.
Separator Moisture content of the final oil, without
vacuum drying is < 0.5%. A feed capacity up to
Cream 125 l/h (Santan) can be achieved with a two
stage process.
Purifier With a 3-stage process the capacity can be
increased to 250-300 l/h.
Heating with PHE
For bigger capacities up to 1000 l/h santan, the
process including the necessary equipment is
Vacuum dryer
shown on the last page. This completely
automated process is suitable for CIP.
Filtration
For the separators Westfalia Separator has
Cooling and Storage designed a special gentle feed system to
achieve a maximum oil yield.
VCO
3-stage process for separation of up
to 300 l/h undiluted coconut milk

OSD 10

OSD 10

BTE 9
 Westfalia Separator
Mechanical Separation
Industry
Division

VCO - Continuous Process

Capacity. 1000 l/h Santan with app. 35% oil content

Vibrating screen Control cabinet

Feed tank (agitator)

Scope of supply WS Pump

Option Plate heat exchanger

MSE 75-01-177 CIP Pump

LP
Buffer tank

Pump

SD 30-03-077
LP
Buffer tank

Pump

SD 30-03-077
LP
Buffer tank

Pump

PHE

Vacuum dryer

Filter

PHE
Cross section SD 30-03-077

Westfalia Separator Industry GmbH

Take the Best – Separate the Rest

A company of GEA group
Westfalia Separator Industry GmbH – Separation Technology – Werner Habig-Straße 1 – D-59302 Oelde (F.R. Germany)
Tel.: +49 (0) 2522 / 77-0 – Fax +49 (0) 2522 / 77-2488 – Internet: www.westfalia-separator.com –
E-mail: info@gea-westfalia.de Subject to modification