INFLUENCE OF VISCOSITY ON WAX SETTLING AND REFINING LOSS IN RICE BRANOIL

The role of viscosity on wax settling and refining loss in rice bran o il (RBO) has been studied with model systems of refined peanut oil and RBO of different free fatty acids contents. Wax was the only constitu ent of RBO that significantly increased the viscosity (81.5%) of oil. Monoglycerides synergistically raised the viscosity of the oil (by 114 .2%) and lowered the rate of wax settling. Although a reduction in the viscosity of the oil significantly decreased the refining loss, the m inimum loss attained was still 20% more than the theoretically predict ed value. This led us to conclude that some chemical constituents, suc h as monoglycerides, must be removed before dewaxing; thereafter, oryz anol and phosphotipids have to be removed. One can get an oil free of wax, recover other by-products and reduce processing losses.