Edible Oils Refining: Basic Principles and Modern Practices Short Course

Edible Oils Refining: Basic Principles and Modern Practices Short Course 
April 26-27, 2025, Portland, Oregon  
Preceding the 2025 AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo 

Edible Oils Refining: Short Course Description

As a professional in the edible oil refining industry, we understand your everyday challenges, including:

• Balancing production efficiency with cost controls
• Minimizing downtime and equipment failure
• Keeping up with technological advances in refining processes

Whether you’re a plant manager looking for practical training, a businessperson wanting to expand your technical knowledge, or a scientist looking to stay current on the latest technology, this course is for you.

We’ve recruited only the best industry experts to help you tackle your biggest challenges in this year’s short course.

This hands-on course breaks down the key processing steps—from raw oilseed to purified, high-quality oil—so you can make smarter decisions in plant operations. Learn how to eliminate contaminants, reduce waste, and improve output while keeping costs low.

With the rise in demand for naturally sourced products, we’ve added new modules on cold-pressed vegetable oils and pretreatments for biodiesel fuels to keep you ahead of the curve.

Logistical notes:  

• All course materials will be provided digitally only. Please plan accordingly. 
• Coffee breaks and lunch are included for attendees and instructors. 

Edible Oils Refining: Short Course Schedule

Day 1 – Saturday, April 26, 2025, Room TBA 
9:00 am—4:00 pm PDT (UTC -7) 

9:00-9:05am – Welcome
9:05-9:50am – Seed Preparation and Extraction
9:50-10:30am – The Chemistry of Crude Oil
10:30-10:45am – Refreshment Break
10:45-11:00am – Assessments and Review
11:00-11:45am – Degumming Processes
11:45am-12:00pm – Lecithin Production
12:00-1:00pm – Lunch
1:00-1:15pm – Assessments and Review
1:15-1:45pm – Chemical vs Physical Refining
1:45-2:00pm – Refreshment Break
2:00-2:15pm – Assessments and Review
2:15-2:55pm – Bleaching & Filtration
2:55-3:40pm – Deodorization & Optimization
3:40-3:55pm – Q&A and Discussion
3:55-4:00pm – Closing Remarks

Day 2 – Sunday, April 27, 2025, Room TBA 
9:00 am—3:00 pm PDT (UTC -7), Course Program
5:30—7:00 pm PDT (UTC -7), AM Welcome Reception 

9:00-9:05am – Opening Remarks
9:05-9:20am – Assessments and Review
9:20-9:50am – Oil Quality
9:50-10:15am – Cold Pressed Oils
10:15-10:30am – Refreshment Break
10:30-10:45am – Assessments and Review
10:45-11:15am – Fractionation
11:15-11:45am – Interesterification
11:45am-12:45pm – Lunch
12:45-1:00pm – Assessments and Review
1:00-1:30pm – Hydrogenation
1:30-1:45pm – Refreshment Break
1:45-2:15pm – Hydrotreated Oils and Sustainable Aviation Fuel
2:15-2:45pm – Pretreatment Considerations for Sustainable Aviation Fuel
2:45-2:55pm – Q&A and Discussion
2:55-3:00pm – Closing Remarks
5:30-7:00pm – AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo Welcome Reception

Edible Oils Refining: Instructors

Thanks to our esteemed course instructors for generously sharing their industry expertise and experience. This year, Alan Paine will moderate the short course. The following instructors will teach course topics: 

Brent German 
Brent German has over 25 years of experience in engineering and process management within the fields of fats, oils, biofuels, and cellulosic sugars. His global expertise spans numerous countries, where he has contributed to optimizing processes such as chemical and physical refining, bleaching, and deodorization. With a deep understanding of refining workflows and operational parameters, Brent brings practical insights to help learners master refining techniques and process optimization. 

Randy Kruger 
Randy Kruger is a seasoned chemical engineer with four decades of expertise in edible oil processing. His comprehensive knowledge encompasses seed preparation, oil extraction, and refining, with hands-on experience in unit operations such as enzymatic degumming, interesterification, and hydrogenation. Randy’s instructional approach is rooted in his ability to break down complex concepts, enabling participants to enhance operational decision-making and plant efficiency. 

Alan Paine 
Alan Paine is an accomplished chemical engineer with extensive experience in vegetable oil refining. Over a 36-year career, he has developed expertise in refining processes such as degumming, fractionation, and neutralization. With a focus on practical applications, Alan’s teaching emphasizes refining process improvements and operational efficiency, empowering participants with strategies to optimize plant performance. 

Joanna Wawrzynczyk 
Joanna Wawrzynczyk has spent over two decades developing enzymatic processes for various industries. She is currently a science manager at an international company researching biotechnological solutions for vegetable oils refining. Prior to joining the industry, she was a professor in pure and applied biochemistry at Lund Technical University in Sweden. Joanna’s instruction combines technical detail with practical applications, helping learners grasp the science behind oil refining and process improvement. 

Bryan Yeh 
Bryan Yeh brings over 35 years of experience spanning agribusiness, biofuels, and renewable energy. His expertise includes cold pressing, hydrogenation, and sustainable aviation fuel production, with a focus on integrating innovative techniques into refining practices. Bryan’s teaching provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of emerging technologies and their role in refining and sustainable production.