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Solvent Extraction for Vegetable Oil Production: National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)

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Rule Summary

This industry is comprised of facilities that produce crude vegetable oil and meal products by removing oil from oilseeds through direct contact with an organic solvent.

The extraction process is the same for all eight types of oilseeds subject to this rule (soybean, cottonseed, canola, corn germ, sunflower, safflower, peanuts, and flax). In each case, the seeds are crushed and mixed with the solvent. The oil then dissolves in the solvent. Following this step, the solution is separated from the seeds and heated to evaporate the solvent. The evaporated solvents are then condensed and reused in the process.

The National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for this sector was originally proposed in 2000 and promulgated in 2001. Amendments were made in 2002 and 2004. In these actions, the EPA identified n-hexane as the HAP emitted in the largest quantity from the solvent extraction process in vegetable oil production. This standard restricts plant-wide hexane emissions from each affected facility rather than requiring individual controls at each emission point.

See the regulations in the section below for more details. 

Rule History

03/18/2020 - Final Rule

06/27/2019 - Proposed Rule

09/01/2004 - Proposed Rule & Direct Final Rule

04/05/2002 - Proposed Rule & Direct Final Rule

04/12/2001 - Final Rule

05/26/2000 - Proposed Rule

Additional Resources

Fact Sheet: Final Amendments to Air Toxics Standards for Solvent Extraction for Vegetable Oil Production

Proposed Amendments:

Public Comments and EPA Responses to the Proposed NESHAP for Solvent Extraction for Vegetable Oil Production

Fact Sheet: Final Air Toxics Rule for Solvent Extraction in Vegetable Oil Production

Compliance

Compliance Demonstration for the Solvent Extraction for the Vegetable Oil Production NESHAP

Applicability Determination Index (ADI).  The ADI is maintained by EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) and provides a data base of memoranda dealing with applicability issues.  The database is searchable by Subpart.