An overview of the application of controlled flow cavitation (CFC™) phenomenon for the intensification of chemical processing applications is presented. For vegetable oil degumming and/or neutralization reactions, the reasons for enhanced performance of the refining operation, reduced environmental impact, observed reduction in necessary acid and/or caustic addition as well as decrease in oil loss, potential savings in steam consumption and decrease in maintenance opex is discussed and industrial scale examples given. The efficient removal of residual soaps, phosphorus, ffa and metals while minimizing and in some cases even eliminating the need for water washing or silica addition is also described along with the practical considerations to utilizing the technology and expected changes to process.
