The new degumming process EnzyMax is the first to use a natural enzyme as a biocatalyst for phosphatide removal from vegetable oils. The enzyme Phospholipase A2 splits off the fatty acid linked in the sn-2 position of the phospholipid molecule thus imparting oil-insolubility to the remaining 1-acyl-lysophospholipid and making it amenable to separation. The EnzyMax degumming process can be used on all kinds of oil seed and varying oil qualities with consistently good performance. Even the addition of small enzyme amounts of abt. 700 lecitase units per kg of oil reduces the residual phosphorus concentration to below 10 ppm. As a result, chemical refining can be replaced by physical refining thus eliminating the need for neutralization, soapstock splitting and waste water treatment.