Flax Seed Oil Extraction Optimization

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The market for cold pressed Flax seed oil is growing both domestically and internationally due to its excellent nutritional benefits. Saskatchewan farmers grow significant acres of flax each year for oil production, the major market is China which has increased its imports of flax dramatically in recent years. This project will work to optimize the cold pressing regime of TA Foods. Different batches of flax seed yield oil with differing levels of free fatty acids during the cold pressing process. Under similar conditions some batches of flax seed have low levels of free fatty acids, others have much higher levels. High fatty acid levels are not desirable as this indicates that the triglycerides have started to break down releasing free fatty acids, this can lead to an off taste in the oil and shorten its self-life. We will be looking at several factors that may influence the acidity of the oil after processing including agronomic factors in growing the flax, different storage conditions and some variables within the crushing process itself. The results of this study should help TA Foods to produce a more consistent product and perhaps assist them in knowing which factors are important in purchasing seed stock for crushing.