Chia seed oil extraction mainly involves two processes: pressing and extraction. The former is more commonly used in high-end edible oil production.

1. Pressing (Physical Extraction, Mainstream Process)

Pretreatment: Clean chia seeds are screened to remove impurities. Some processes include low-temperature drying (to prevent nutrient loss).

Oil Extraction: The pretreated chia seeds are fed into an oil press, where they are directly squeezed out using physical pressure. This process is divided into cold pressing (temperature ≤ 60°C, which preserves more active ingredients) and hot pressing (roasting the seeds before pressing, which yields a slightly higher oil yield but destroys some nutrients).

Refining (Optional): The "crude" oil extracted from the press undergoes simple processing such as sedimentation and filtration. High-end products often retain this state. Further deacidification and bleaching can also be performed to obtain a purer oil.

2. Extraction (Chemical-Assisted Extraction, Industrial-Scale)

Pretreatment: Chia seeds are decontaminated and then rolled to increase contact area. Solvent extraction: The flaked raw material is soaked in a food-grade solvent (such as n-hexane) to dissolve the oil and form a "mixed oil."

Separation and refining: The solvent in the mixed oil is removed by distillation to obtain the crude oil, which is then refined through multiple steps, including degumming and deacidification, to obtain the finished oil.

Pressing 100 kg of chia seeds typically yields approximately 25-30 kg of chia oil and 70-75 kg of chia seed cake. The specific yield depends on the plumpness of the kernel, the pressing process (cold pressing/hot pressing), and the efficiency of the equipment.

Chia seed oil's applications are concentrated in dietary supplements and skincare, relying on its rich omega-3 fatty acids (α-linolenic acid) and antioxidant content.

Usage: As a cold-use vegetable oil, it can be added directly to salad dressings, yogurt, juice, or porridge (avoid high-temperature cooking to prevent nutrient loss). It can also be taken orally daily as a dietary supplement to replenish essential fatty acids. It is suitable for those concerned about cardiovascular health and those who need a balanced fatty acid intake. 

Skincare Applications: As a natural base oil, apply directly to dry face, hands, or hair to moisturize and soothe dry skin. It can also be added to homemade face masks and body lotions to enhance the moisturizing and antioxidant properties of skincare products, making it suitable for dry and sensitive skin.

Chia seed powder production lines typically include raw material pretreatment, crushing, and packaging. 

1. Raw Material Pretreatment Equipment: This equipment washes chia seeds, removing impurities, small stones, and dust to ensure raw material purity. It also screens chia seeds, typically with a mesh size of 0.5-2mm. Furthermore, the chia seeds are crushed to a particle size suitable for subsequent processing, with an adjustable degree of crushing.

2. Humidifier and Conditioner: This equipment adds water to the pretreated chia seed powder and adjusts the temperature, raising the moisture content to 15%-18%. The temperature is maintained below 50°C to ensure even moisture distribution, preparing for subsequent extrusion. 

3. Twin-screw extruder: This is the core equipment in the production line. Through the rotation of the twin screws, the chia seeds are extruded, heated, mixed, cell-broken, and expanded. Its power is generally 22-45 kW, with temperature zones and adjustable speeds between 0 and 400 RPM.

4. Cooling system: The chia seeds are hot after extrusion and require cooling through a cooling system. Air or water cooling can be used to stabilize the chia seed structure, prevent clumping, and facilitate subsequent processing.

5. Pulverizer: This crushes the cooled extruded chia seeds into a uniform fine powder. The output particle size can be controlled between 60 and 120 mesh to meet the needs of different products.

6. Mixer: For the production of composite chia seed powder products, the extruded powder can be evenly mixed with other functional ingredients, such as protein powder, vitamin powder, and minerals, in a mixer to ensure a precise ratio and prevent stratification. 

7. Packaging equipment: completes automatic metering, packaging, sealing and other operations, suitable for bagging or boxing, has a high automation rate, and can be packaged according to product specifications and market demand.