EFFECTS OF EXPANDER PROCESS ON THE PHOSPHOLIPIDS IN SOYBEAN OIL

Crude oils were extracted from soybean flakes and collets by conventional and expander processes, respectively. The phospholipids were removed by degumming, and the lecithins were produced by using commercial procedures. The effects of the expander process on the degumming efficiencies were evaluated. The differences in the phosphatide compositions of the oils and the lecithins produced from expander and conventional processes were compared by high performance liquid chromatography. The phos phorus content indicated that expander processed oil contained more phosphorus (985 ppm) than the conventional oil (840 ppm). However, the phospholipids in the expander-processed oil were more hydratable than those in the conventional oil. After degumming, the phosphorus content in the expander-processed and conventional oil were reduced by 93.2 and 78.6%, respectively. The expander-processed lecithin contained 74.3% acetone-insoluble matter (AI), and the conventional lecithin contained 65.8%. More phosphatidylcholine was found in the expander-processed lecithin (39.78%, based on AI) than in the conventionally processed lecithin (34.19%). The phosphatidylinositol contents of the expander-processed lecithin and the conventional lecithin are almost the same (19.95 and 19.97%). The phosphatidylethanolamine in the expander-processed lecithin (12.36%) was lower than that in the conventional lecithin (18.07%).