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The oil comes from the germ, at the center of the kernelCorn oil is produced through a process known as "wet milling," which is also used to manufacture feed for livestock, starch products like corn starch and sweeteners. In the first stage of wet milling, the corn is shelled and cleaned. - The kernels are put in a vat of water that maintains a temperature of 125 degrees Fahrenheit. A slight amount of acid is added to the water as well. The corn stays in this condition, where it softens and becomes easier to separate, for 24 to 48 hours. The aim is for the kernel to easily separate, so the germ, which contains about 85 percent of the kernel's oil, can be used for oil. The other parts are used to produce feed, sweeteners and starch.
- After softening, the corn is ground coarsely and a machine separates the grinds by weight: each part of the kernel has a different weight. The germ is separated, dried and moved to an oil recovery facility. There, it is pressed to squeeze out the oil. A hexane solvent is used after this to extract the remainder of the germ's oil. The solvent evaporates and is reused after this process. At this point, crude corn oil has been produced.
- There are four steps to refining corn oil. The first is called degumming and it is used in factories that produce other oils in addition to corn oil. It removes other materials from the oil using hot water or steam. The next step is referred to as alkali refining and it utilizes heat to remove free fatty acids and lighten the color of the oil. Acid activated clays treat the oil to bleach it. Following alkali refining, the oil is winterized, which removes the wax in oil, making it look cloudy. This is done by freezing the oil and skimming off the wax, which crystallizes. Finally, the corn is distilled to deoderize it. This is done by inundating the oil with 500 degree Fahrenheit steam. The odors rise to the ceiling and are vacuumed out. The refined oil is then shipped to another factory, bottled and boxed.
