Bulk Vegetable Oil Delivery

Vegetable oils, like palm, olive, linseed and coconut oils, are by no means a recent invention. In fact, pressed olive oil has been used for a millennium. What has changed is the wide range of oils available, the production methods and the delivery methods.

Vegetable oils and fats are derived from plants. At room temperature, they are liquid and are comprised primarily of triglycerides. In most cases, the oil itself is derived from the seed of the plant. Most vegetable oils are edible, although some are not. Oils such as castor oil, tung oil and linseed oil are all used for industrial, pharmaceutical, cosmetic or lubrication applications.

The most popular use of vegetable oils is, of course, for cooking. Vegetable oil is used to add flavor and texture to dishes and is also used to cook other foods.  Most of the important cooking oils, canola, safflower, sunflower and peanut have high flash points. This means they can be heated to a high temperature without the worry of a flash fire. Other, tropical, vegetable oils like coconut oil and especial African palm oil have an even high flash point and are used particularly for Asian cuisine.

Other uses for vegetable oil include industrial purposes. Soap, candles, cosmetic and perfumes generally contain at least some form of vegetable oil.  They can also be used for producing paint and treating wood products. Another application is using vegetable oil to produce lubricants and hydraulic fluids.  Some pet foods include vegetable oil, as do some biofuels.

Vegetable oil is produced in two ways. The first, more traditional, method is physical extraction in which the seeds are crushed and the resulting product further treated to produce edible oils. The second process involves applying solvents and other chemicals to extract the oils. This method is by far the less expensive method. It is interesting to note that the more primitive press method is used primarily in developing countries while the more industrial nations rely on chemical extraction.

After production, the vegetable oils must be delivered. In the case of bulk distribution, typically large trucks are used. The amount of vegetable oil that is used in the production of chips and in the fast food industry has led to a large amount of oil waste. To solve this problem, many of the bulk distributors have developed a system in which fresh oil is delivered while the waste is picked up. In effect, the large trucks have two separate tanks. One tank is for new vegetable oil and one is for the waste product. Recently, researchers have begun to develop processes by which the waste oil can be refined into a fuel.

Vegetable oils are generally considered to be healthier than animal oils and fats. There are some that are typically considered to be healthier. One of the best is African palm oil. This vegetable oil, which is also distributed in bulk, contains high levels of beta-carotene and vitamin A and is considered a healthier alternative to animal oils and even some vegetable oils.