Choosing the appropriate extraction method of soybean oil is very important to the profitability of the oil mill plant. Although both pressing and solvent extraction can produce edible oil, there are significant differences in their oil extraction rate and operating cost. This paper will compare these two technologies in detail to help you choose the best scheme for soybean oil production line.

Difference of oil extraction rate

The biggest difference between the two methods is that the amount of oil extracted from the same batch of soybeans is different.

1. Mechanical pressing (physical extraction)

Mechanical pressing extrudes oil from matured soybeans by physical pressure.

Oil extraction rate: 12%–18%

Residual oil rate: about 5%-8%

Working principle: depending on the pressure, when the pressure limit is reached, the remaining grease will remain in the solid cake.

Advantages: more natural flavor and heat-sensitive nutrients (such as phospholipids) are retained, which is suitable for “cold pressed” or “virgin pressed” high-end markets.

2. Solvent extraction (chemical leaching)

Solvent extraction uses food-grade solvent (usually hexane) to

dissolve oil, and then recovers the solvent by distillation.

Oil extraction rate: 18%–25% or higher.

Residual oil rate: less than 1%

Working principle: oil is separated from solid by chemical means. The solvent can completely penetrate the cell structure, leaving almost no residual oil.

Advantages: maximizing output and minimizing waste is the key to large-scale and cost-sensitive production.

Comparison table: pressing vs. solvent extraction

Feature	Pressing	Solvent extraction
Max oil yield	12%-18%	18%-25%
Residual oil	High(5%-8%)	Very low(<1%)
Processing cost	Lower initial investment	Higher initial investment
Nutrient retention	Better(natural flavor)	Good(Refining removes impurities)
Best for	Small farms, premium oil	Large factories, bulk commodity oil

How to choose the right processing method for you?

Selective mechanical pressing

If:

 You aim at the high-end market where “pure physical squeezing” is the selling point.

Your production scale is small or medium (below 50 tons/day).

You want to reduce the initial equipment investment and simplify the operation process.

Selective solvent extraction

If:

Profit margin is your priority.

An additional 5%–10% oil extraction rate will significantly increase annual income.

You operate a large industrial factory (100 tons/day and above). You plan to further process soybean meal (low residual oil is more suitable for making animal feed).

How to maximize profits?

For most commercial producers, the combination of “pre-pressing+solvent extraction” is the best choice: first obtain high-quality primary pressed oil, and then extract the last drop of profit from the cake by solvent extraction.

Need help to calculate the return on investment of soybean oil projects? Contact us for customized production line scheme and detailed quotation!