Hydrogen is infused through soybean oil at a controlled temperature, changing the chemical and physical structure of the oil until it will solidify at room temperature. The hydrogenation process may be interrupted at various times to produce specific qualities like spreadability or body, or to maintain specific nutritional factors. The hydrogenated soybean oil is then blended with natural liquid soybean oil to achieve the desired consistency. Soybeans are now the second most important crop for U.S. farmers, after corn. Soybean oil is used as an alternative to petroleum in the manufacture of printing inks for both black and color printing.
Soy ink prints more papers with less ink and results in reduced wasted paper.
Soy ink also produces less rub-off color and leaves printing presses easier to clean. Environ is a building material manufactured by Phoenix Composites in Minnesota which is made from soy protein and waste paper. Although it looks a lot like marble, it can be cut like wood, making it quite desirable for commercial countertops, flooring, wall panels and even furniture. A by product of the soybean crushing process, called soapstock, is now being used as dust suppressant on dirt and gravel roads throughout the Midwest as an alternative to the chemicals used in the past. Environmentally safe in places where runoff is a concern, soybean oil dust suppressant lasts longer than most of the alternatives, and is incredibly effective at keeping dust down throughout the year.