GEA eTOP Degumming solution

GEA has introduced GEA eTOP Degumming, an enzymatically supported enhancement of its proven TOP degumming process for edible oil refining. The solution is designed to deliver higher oil yield, reduced chemical and water consumption, and stable low phosphorus levels, driven by a separation concept engineered for industrial operation.

The solution builds on GEA’s TOP degumming process, which is used in physical refining applications and biodiesel pretreatment. An additional enzymatic deep degumming step, enabled by Novonesis’ Quara LowP and application expertise, is integrated into a multi‑stage separation architecture developed and engineered by GEA.

The defining element of eTOP Degumming is GEA’s final centrifugal separation stage, which is designed to ensure stable and predictable performance under industrial conditions. Based on GEA’s nozzle separator technology, this stage provides the robustness required to fully translate enzymatic efficiency into consistent oil quality in continuous operation.

The two‑stage centrifugal separation concept, a core feature of GEA’s TOP degumming technology, can absorb upstream fluctuations and safeguard downstream processing, ensuring consistent phosphorus removal and stable interface control.

Compared to conventional TOP degumming, GEA eTOP Degumming delivers: up to 1.4% higher oil yield; up to 75% lower acid consumption and elimination of caustic; water consumption reduced by up to 50%; consistently below 10 ppm phosphorus, compared to typical levels above 20 ppm; improved gum handling due to reduced viscosity; and more stable operation and smoother commissioning.