Why Non Woven Fabric Is Widely Used in Food Oil Filter Applications

Introduction

Traditional fabrics are woven together with a systematic interlacing procedure on a loom. The non-woven fabrics are manufactured as continuous sheets or webs. Instead of weaving, these fibers are held together using physical force, heat and chemicals. Owing to its unique manufacturing process, it has a unique tortuous path inside the material. When the food oil passes through, they are forced to navigate through the intricate route. It helps trap the tiny direct particles that would slip right past a standard woven grid.

Purifying liquid is a critical process in the majority of industries that deal with liquids. It increases the product purity and provides energy savings with process efficiency. Particularly in the food sector, specializing material to clean liquids are absolutely essential. These non- woven fabric help in maintaining the quality of cooking oils for a long time before they are replaced.

The versatility of non-woven fabrics makes them the most favored filtration process for food oil. Their market is projected to reach an impressive $22 billion by the year 2026. The need for eco-friendly and sustainable products is rising. It is pushing developers to use materials that can break down naturally, such as viscose. This article is about explaining why non-woven fabrics are widely used in food oil filter applications.

What Is Non-Woven Fabric?

Creation of Non-Woven Fabrics

Non-woven fabrics are essentially just a porous sheet created by randomly pressing untwisted threads together. Its primary job is to filter or separate phases of a fluid. The material skips the weaving process entirely. Typically, the material is made using:

• Plastics: Polypropylene (PP) and polyester (PET)

• Plant-Based: Natural or recycled plant fibers, like viscose (cellulose)

To hold these loose fibers together, manufacturers use various techniques.

• Heat and Glue: The non-woven fabric factories use a chemical process where adhesives or binders are applied to the fiber web. Then it is activated using heat. The rise in temperature permanently locks the structure into its place.

• Hot Air Jets: For advanced material,m microscopic melted plastics are forced through tiny nozzles. It is done fast with hot air systems called meltblown technology. They create a tightly packed web with incredibly small holes. It makes them ideal for sub-micron filtration.

How the 3D Filter Maze Works

The key is to create a large surface area for liquid to come in contact with. The 3D intricate labyrinths give non-woven fabric filters a larger surface area compared to two-dimensional woven fabrics. Manufacturers adjust the pore size distribution by selecting the fiber diameter to target specific contaminants. It helps capture contaminants through three modes:

• Interception

• Inertial Impaction

• Diffusion

The Role of Filtration in Food Oil Processing

Ensuring Product Purity and Clarity

In the food industry, the target is to remove insoluble substances from oil. It helps achieve a crystal clear look. The filter takes out all the dirt, sediments and carbon residues at a microscopic level.

Beyond just looking good, the filtration helps with the oil's chemical breakdown. It reduces the buildup of acid and specific FFAs. These are the main reasons the oil turns unusable. Non-woven fabrics are also used in a process called winterization. It is when oil is chilled to force waxes and gums to solidify that they are then removed by the filter to prevent the oil from looking cloudy.

Maintaining Chemical and Thermal Stability

When used in commercial kitchens or food factories, the material used to filter oil must be incredibly tough. It should be able to handle the 180 °C temperature. If the filtration process is efficient, it leads to blocking of the oxidation process that makes the oil go rancid. The filtration process ensures a fresh flavor profile. The filter material must be chemically inert. It ensures that the oil passes through the high temperatures and the filter doesn't leak anything by itself. The filtration process extends the service life of the oil.

Applications of Non-Woven Fabric in Food Oil Filtration

In the world of fast food chains like KFC and McDonald's, non-woven oil filter papers are an essential daily tool. These on-woven fabrics are converted into different shapes. They can be in the form of rolls, flat sheets, sewn envelopes, or cones. It depends on the requirements of the professional kitchens. Different frying equipment may have varying needs.

Amongst the various fabrics, viscose non-woven papers are the preferred choice of commercial kitchens. They excel in high liquid absorption and can withstand intense heat and frying. High-volume fryers that deal with large amounts of food at once utilize sewn filter envelopes. These are designed with specific punched holes to increase the filtration surface area. Ensuring the oil stays clean after the fryer is working continuously. Here are some ways the non-woven fabric oil helps businesses:

Key Advantages of Non-Woven Fabric in Food Oil Filter Applications

Superior Particle Capture and Efficiency

In comparison to regular fabric-based filters, non-woven fabrics have superior contamination-capturing capability. They capture the contaminants throughout their thickness instead of relying on the surface alone. Its in-depth 3D structure, these flyers have very high dirt-holding capacity (DHC). It massively reduces the frequency of clogging. They remain operational and filter the food oil for a longer time before the maximum allowable pressure drop across the filter is reached.

A batch of non-woven fabric filters is likely to provide consistent performance. It means you can be confident that the debris larger than the specified size will effectively be blocked and stopped from passing through. Its multi-layered design helps lower toxins. These include biological and chemical contaminants in oil produced by fungi and peroxides.

Compliance with Food Safety Standards

When it comes to material for human consumption, the laws are much more strict. The standards for non-woven filters are kept high to ensure safe for direct contact with the food. Every manufacturer must adhere to the strict guidelines. They should hold certification from the FDA and NSF. These certifications ensure that the material will not react with the food or degrade under heat.

The filters are engineered to be lint-free. It is crucial as the fiber-shedding can cause contamination itself. Particularly in the advanced manufacturing process, these filters are also given antimicrobial or antibacterial properties. For flavor preservatives, manufacturers use viscose fibers. It helps keep the oil taste-neutral.

The Advantages Of Non-Woven Fabric Over Other Filtering Media

When comparing basic woven fabric with non-woven fabrics, the non-woven is much more efficient. It is a reliable choice for food oil filtration. Here is how these two fabric filters are different from each other:

• Higher Efficiency: The void volume of non-woven fabrics is around 98%, and for woven fabrics it is 70%. It gives a lot more space for fluid to move through without dropping pressure significantly. The result is lower pumping cost.

• Structural Integrity: Woven fabrics are made using interrelated threads. These are prone to yarn slippage. The shifting can create gaps and unwanted bypass. Non-woven materials are permanently bonded with no risk.

• Cost and Speed of Production: Non-woven can be manufactured in continuous high-speed assembly lines. It makes them more financially feasible for large-scale operators.

• Durability: Woven fabrics are prone to wear and tear. They are not suitable for abrasive environments. Non-woven fabrics are tougher, which means they are replaced less often, saving time and money. 

• Precision Filtration: Non-woven can catch a massive range of particles. It can go from the macro scale to the nano scale. Depending on the filter specification. It was not possible with the older filter material design.

• Easier Cleaning: These fabrics also offer superior cleaning. After the food oil passes through the non-woven fabric filter, it results in a solid mass called filter cake that settles on the filter. It can be removed or peeled off the surface conveniently.

• High Throughput: Owing to their capability of allowing higher flow rates, it helps businesses improve their production throughput.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Non-Woven Oil Filter Materials

Material Selection and Compatibility

Choosing the right base material is the foundation of a filtration process. The material must be capable of handling the temperature at which oil is being filtered without releasing toxins. There are two main choices when it comes to non-woven fabric filters for food oil. Viscose is the ideal material for hot oil applications. Its natural origin allows it to offer exceptional liquid absorption.

For extreme tensile strength, you can go for the polyester (PET) based non-woven fabric for food oil filtration. It can handle the harsh, acidic and oxidizing agents. Irrespective of the material you choose, it should not degrade owing to the additives in your oil. It should handle the heat without melting or falling apart.

Physical Specifications and Performance Metrics

Engineers must evaluate the physical characteristics of the fabric to ensure that it holds up under operational stress. The following are the specifications that clarify the filter's capability:

• Weight: The fabric is weighed in Grams per Square Meter (GSM). For food oil filtration, the range is 20gsm to 150gsm. The typical weight used in most commercial systems is 50gsm.

• Strength: The fabric needs to be strong to handle the mechanical stresses it will be subjected to in the process when oil passes through it. It is important that the machine direction (MD) and the cross direction (CD) strength of the filter are tested.

• Uniformity: It refers to the fabric's weight across the entire surface. It should be consistent in thickness. Any thin or local worker spots can reduce filter life.

• Pore Size: The size of the particles the filter can block depends on the weight and density of the fabric. Most oil filtration processes catch particles at 10 to 50 microns.

Conclusion

Non-woven fabric filters have truly revolutionized how we refine our food oil. These filters offer an efficient method that balances three key factors:

• Efficiency

• Durability

• Cost-Effectiveness

The success of the material is mainly due to its maze-like structure. The design allows large dirt-holding capability. These are crucial in the edible oil purification process to extend their life in commercial kitchens. As there are stricter rules around food safety and environmental sustainability, companies are shifting to non-woven media.

If you are looking for an expert with 20 years of experience in the industry, then consider Xinyu Non-woven. They specialize in manufacturing FDA and NSF-certified non-woven fabric filters. Their products include:

• Edible Oil Filtration Paper

• Chemical-Bonded Non-Woven Filter Fabrics

Explore their whole range of professional-grade solutions at www.wzxinyu.com.

FAQ

Q1: Does non-woven fabric affect the taste or quality of edible oil?

The non-woven fabric filter material must be chemically inert. It helps keep the oil taste-neutral. The filtration process ensures a fresh flavor profile. These certifications ensure that the material will not react.

Q2: What factors influence the filtration performance of non-woven fabric?

The size of the particles that the non-woven fabric filter can block depends on the weight and density of the fabric. Manufacturers adjust the pore size distribution by selecting the fiber diameter.

Q3: Why is non-woven fabric becoming increasingly popular in the food processing industry?

The need for eco-friendly and sustainable products is rising. It is pushing developers. As there are stricter rules around food safety and environmental sustainability, companies are shifting to non-woven media.