2027 Edible Oils Refining Short Course

2027 Edible Oils Refining: Short Course Description

This in-person, two-day short course offers a clear, structured foundation in modern refining, connecting essential unit operations with the performance, quality, and economic considerations that drive today’s edible oils and biofuel sectors. Designed for professionals across research, engineering, quality assurance, commercial teams, and organizational leadership, the program emphasizes practical understanding of refining workflows and the variables influencing product consistency, efficiency, and compliance.

The 2027 short course will be held at the Hilton Chicago at 720 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, USA 60605.

Registration opens in January 2027.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Explain the fundamental steps in edible oil refining, from seed preparation and extraction through degumming, neutralization, bleaching, deodorization, and finishing.
Describe the chemistry of crude oils and how impurities such as FFAs, phospholipids, pigments, and contaminants influence processing decisions.
Compare refining methods (chemical vs. physical) and identify when each approach is appropriate based on feedstock characteristics and operational goals.
Evaluate degumming, bleaching, and deodorization parameters to improve yield, product quality, and process efficiency.
Interpret analytical quality measurements and understand their role in determining product specifications and commercial value.
Identify common processing challenges and understand the operational and chemical factors that contribute to variability, loss, and off-spec conditions.
Describe pretreatment needs for renewable diesel and SAF, including hydrotreatment requirements, contaminant thresholds, and catalyst protection.
Apply biotechnological and enzymatic concepts to modern refining challenges.
Connect refining principles to plant-level decision-making, including optimization, troubleshooting, and economic considerations.

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

Map the full refining workflow and understand how decisions at each stage affect downstream operations and end-product quality.
Select appropriate refining pathways based on crude oil composition, desired specifications, and cost/yield considerations.
Assess process data and quality results to diagnose common issues and suggest targeted improvements.
Reduce process losses through informed adjustments in pretreatment, degumming, neutralization, bleaching, and deodorization.
Improve cross-functional communication by understanding the scientific, engineering, and operational rationale behind refining steps.
Support innovation and product development through stronger understanding of contaminant behavior, modification techniques, and analytical requirements.
Understand refining requirements for biofuel feedstocks, enabling better alignment with renewable diesel and SAF production needs.
Make more informed plant-level decisions related to process efficiency, specification management, and equipment performance.
Apply practical, industry-relevant knowledge immediately within research, engineering, QA, sales, or leadership roles.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for professionals across the edible oils, oilseed processing, and renewable fuels sectors who need a clear, practical understanding of refining operations and their impact on product quality, efficiency, and economic performance. Whether your role is technical, commercial, operational, or strategic, this program strengthens your ability to interpret refining principles and apply them to process optimization, specification development, innovation workflows, and organizational decision-making.

The course is especially relevant for individuals in research, sales, engineering, quality assurance, scientific roles, and executive leadership who want to deepen technical knowledge, improve cross-functional communication, and stay current with evolving technologies.

Participants will gain practical insight to refine processes, reduce loss, improve reliability, and better understand the variables influencing refined oil performance.

Roles that benefit include:

Technical & Research Roles:
-Research Scientists
-Lab Scientists
-Lab Managers
-QA Specialists
-Process Engineers
-R&D Managers

Operations & Production Roles:
-Plant Managers
-Plant Engineers
-Plant Operators
-Production Supervisors

Business, Commercial & Strategic Roles:
-Sales Managers
-Technical Sales Representatives
-Supply Chain Managers
-Business Managers
-C-Suite Executives
-Owners and Organizational Leaders

Location & Pricing

The short course will be held at the Hilton Chicago | 720 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, USA 60605. Registration opens in January 2027.

Registration & Access

The short course is not part of the AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo. It is a separate, stand-alone AOCS educational program that takes place before the annual meeting. All short course registrants receive a $200 discount on AOCS Annual Meeting registration.* In addition, short course participants are invited to the AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo Welcome Reception on Sunday, May 2, beginning at 5:30 p.m. CDT (UTC−05). This reception features complimentary drinks and appetizers and offers an excellent opportunity to connect, network, and build relationships with peers from across industry, academia, and the global AOCS community — before the meeting officially begins.

*This discount excludes student, early career, retiree, and exhibit personnel pricing.

2027 Edible Oils Refining Short Course