Before edible oil ends up on supermarket shelves, it undergoes various process steps to achieve the desired quality. Unwanted components such as lees, water and waxes are filtered out of the oil. Filter aids are used in the precoat filtration process. With JELUCEL®, JELU-WERK offers a renewable filter aid that has ecological and economic advantages for the filtration of edible oil.
Renewable cellulose-based filter aid
JELUCEL is an organic filter aid made from cellulose fibres, which is available in different qualities. JELUCEL® FM, a lignocellulose, is used for filtering vegetable and edible oils. The macro- and microfibrils of the cellulose fibres increase the filtration surface of the filter cake. The result is a higher filter efficiency. This achieves better filtration results and greater clarity of the filtrate. Our filter cellulose removes all types of suspended solids such as phospholipids and waxes.
JELUCEL® is also very suitable for filtering out water during the cold pressing of olive oil. This is because the cellulose fibres bind the water from the oil-water mixture thanks to their hygroscopic properties.
Advantages of JELUCEL®
- sustainable
- PH-stable from PH 6 to 11
- approved for foodstuffs
- High capillary effect
- cost-effective to dispose of
- compostable
- non-abrasive
- efficient
Clear edible oil: high filtration requirements
Phospholipids and waxes are minor components of vegetable oils. They can cause the edible oil to become cloudy if stored for long periods or at low temperatures. Even if the cloudiness is harmless to health, many consumers see it as a sign of spoilage. With its excellent binding properties and high permeability, JELUCEL® ensures optimum clarification during the degumming and winterisation of oils.
The porosity of the filter cake decreases during the manufacturing process. This is due to the mucilage and waxes that clog the openings in the cake. As the JELUCEL® filter aid consists of cellulose fibres, it is particularly permeable to the unfiltrate. With JELUCEL®, filtration takes place not only via the porosity of the cake, but also through the fibres. This results in a higher filter capacity and longer service life compared to conventional mineral filter aids.
Economical filtration of cooking oil
JELUCEL® reduces the cost of filtering edible oil. This is because the filter cellulose is not only cheaper to purchase than mineral filter aids. The costs of use and follow-up costs for maintenance and disposal are also lower. This is because JELUCEL® is characterised by a low wet cake density and high permeability. In addition, our filter cellulose is gentle on production facilities because it is non-abrasive. This results in cost savings:
- smaller consumption quantities
- less product loss
- lower maintenance and servicing requirements
- lower ash content
In harmony with people and nature
JELUCEL® is an organic cellulose that we produce from renewable raw materials. The cellulose fibres are approved for use in food and are harmless to humans. As our JELUCEL® filter cellulose is 100% biodegradable, it poses no risk to the environment. It can be composted and incinerated without any problems. It is also authorised as a feed additive and can be sold to farmers and feed manufacturers. Thanks to the lees, the filter cake contains valuable nutrients for farm animals.
Different qualities
We have two different filter aids in our range: JELUCEL® HM and JELUCEL® FM. The fibre length of the filter aid determines the filtration task. JELUCEL® FM 25 is used for the filtration of edible oil. An overview of the qualities and filtration tasks can be found in the following table:
| JELUCEL® FM | Grinding degree and filtration task | JELUCEL® HM | Grinding degree and filtration task |
| JELUCEL® FM 12 | Very fine; for rolling oils | JELUCEL® HM 30 | Superfine; for cosmetic oils |
| JELUCEL® FM 25 | Medium-fine; for edible and vegetable oils | JELUCEL® HM 90 | Very fine; for special cooling/cutting oils |
| JELUCEL® FM 25 M | Like JELUCEL® FM 25; better flowability in silos | JELUCEL® HM 150 | Fine; for normal cooling/cutting oils |
| JELUCEL® FM 25 HA | Like JELUCEL® FM 25; shorter soaking time | JELUCEL® HM 200 | Medium-fine; for normal rolling oils |
| JELUCEL® FM 50 | Coarse; for degumming | JELUCEL® HM 300 | Coarse; for normal rolling oils |
| JELUCEL® FM 80 | Very coarse; for sludge filtration | JELUCEL® HM 1000 X | For filter press for pressing oilseeds |