Oilseeds Processing with Infrared Micronizing
Higher oil recovery. Lower residuals. Controlled thermal treatment for premium and commodity oils.
Infrared Micronizing™ provides a fast, controllable thermal pre treatment that enhances oil release within oil-bearing seeds. By applying mid-infrared energy directly to the seed structure, the process disrupts cellular matrices, increasing the availability and extractability of the oil — without relying on mechanical force or prolonged heating.
This makes Micronizing an effective upstream step for expeller pressing, cold pressing, and solvent extraction lines, improving both yield and process economics.
How Infrared Micronizing Improves Oil Recovery
Infrared energy penetrates the seed surface and generates rapid internal heating. As temperature rises, oil-bearing cells soften and rupture, releasing more free oil before mechanical extraction.
Key outcomes include:
- 5–10% higher oil yield compared with conventional conditioning
- Lower residual oil in press cake
- Improved pressing efficiency and reduced load on downstream extraction
- Enhanced oil availability (supported by Maze’s technical documentation)
- Minimal moisture loss, preserving seed integrity for pressing or flaking
This pre treatment is especially effective for seeds with tough cellular structures or high oil content, such as sunflower, rapeseed/canola, sesame, groundnut, and specialty oil crops.
Precision Thermal Control
Micronizing operates under tightly controlled temperature and residence time conditions. This allows processors to tailor the treatment to:
- Seed type and variety
- Moisture level
- Desired oil quality (cold pressed, virgin, refined, or commodity-grade)
- Pressing or extraction method
- Throughput and energy targets
The result is a flexible, repeatable process that supports both premium small batch oils and high volume industrial production.
Process Benefits for Oilseed Plants
Higher Digestibility, Better Gelatinization, Improved Oil Release
Infrared Micronizing improves oilseed processing performance by:
- Increasing oil recovery
- Reducing residual oil in press cake
- Enhancing oil quality
- Improving pressing and extraction efficiency
- Supporting consistent, controllable processing across all oilseed types
Process Plant Flow for Infrared Treatment of Oilseeds
Typical equipment configuration for a micronizing line.
Oilseed Trials & Performance Validation
Test Before You Invest - Verify performance with your oilseeds and processing conditions
Maze’s in house R&D Lab allows processors to evaluate Micronizing using their own oilseeds and existing process conditions. Trials quantify:
- Oil yield improvement
- Residual oil reduction
- Pressing behaviour
- Energy consumption
- Product quality outcomes
This data-driven approach ensures processors understand the performance uplift before committing to full-scale installation.
Integrated Process Plant Solutions & Equipment
Maze Process Solutions delivers complete, engineered equipment configurations for modern processing plants. We design and build critical systems in house, and we procure selected ancillary units through trusted partners to ensure every plant operates as a cohesive, fully integrated solution.
- Micronizer™
- Flaking Mills
- Coolers
- Bulk Weighers
- Conveyors & Elevators
- Residual Cooker / Spark Arrestor