Patent ID: 7262311

Claim:
A method of partially refining crude vegetable oil containing gums and other impurities comprising the steps of: (a) permitting the crude vegetable oil to settle over a period of time such that the oil becomes stratified into at least two distinct layers, with one layer comprising gums with a low oil content and a second layer comprising oil containing a fraction of the gums originally present in the oil; (b) separating the oil layer from the gum layer and heating the oil layer to a first temperature which is sufficient to evaporate moisture present in the oil; (c) agitating the oil while it is being heated to said first temperature; (d) allowing the oil to cool to a second temperature within the range of about 170-180° F.; (e) introducing air under pressure into the oil as it is cooling to said second temperature, wherein the air is introduced via an air control device capable of generating bubbles; (f) maintaining the oil within the temperature range of about 170-180° F. for a time period sufficient to achieve a desired viscosity; (g) agitating the oil during step (f) and aerating the oil during step (f) with air under pressure; and (h) allowing the oil to cool to ambient temperatures without agitation or aeration to obtain a partially refined vegetable oil.