extracted using a low pressure press (e.g. bridge press, DME press, New Zealand press) or a
high pressure expeller contains very fine particles of dried kernel called foots which are entrained and
then suspended in the oil. For the low pressure oil extraction process, the general practice is to filter
the newly extracted oil with cheese cloth to remove larger particles of entrained kernel. The oil is then
allowed to undergo gravity settling for a minimum of two weeks to clarify the oil. VCO extracted using
a high pressure expeller is allowed either to undergo gravity settling or is passed through a motorised
plate and frame filter press.
The use of a motorised plate and frame filter press or any type of pressure filter is preferable to gravity
settling. Based on experience, foots are not completely removed, even after two weeks of gravity
settling, and form a residue that settles at the bottom of VCO or VCO-based body oil after packaging
and standing for a long time. The presence of residue at the bottom of a VCO bottle puts buyers off.
If a VCO operation using the fresh-dry process is too small to warrant procurement of a motorised
pressure filter, then gravity settling using containers with a conical bottom is recommended. An
improvised settling container that satisfies this requirement is the 20 litre plastic water container used in
water dispensers. Remove the bottom and position it upside down in a manufactured stand. Place it in
a room in which the temperature is maintained at about 50°C. In this way, whatever residual moisture
there is in the oil will also be removed during the process of settling. The theory is that, at relatively high
temperatures, oil molecules will move upwards more rapidly and the settling process will be hastened.
The designated gravity settling room can be heated using a heater similar to those used for chicken
brooders in poultry farms. It can also be heated using charcoal briquettes as fuel (see Annex 8.3).
Ensure that the heater is placed at a distance from the coconut oil containers when using charcoal
briquettes as fuel to heat the room.
As an additional guideline, always ensure that the container to be used for settling VCO or any filtering
device is totally dry and free from dirt or any extraneous matter before putting in the oil.