| Linseed oil | [German version] |
Table of contents |
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| General: | ||
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Product information | |
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Packaging | |
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Transport | |
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Container transport | |
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Cargo securing | |
Product information
Product name
| German | Leinöl, Flachsöl |
| English | Linseed oil, flaxseed oil |
| French | Huile de lin |
| Spanish | Aceite de linaza |
| Scientific | Linum usitatissimum |
| CN/HS number * | 1515 1 ff. |
(* EU Combined Nomenclature/Harmonized System)
Product description
„Oils“ is a collective term for more or less viscous, generally organic-chemical liquids. Depending on their chemical composition, a distinction may be drawn between fatty, essential, mineral and silicone oils. Fatty oils include liquid, semisolid and solid products of vegetable and animal origin. They are also known as sweet oils.
Linseed oil is of vegetable origin and is obtained from crushed flax seeds. It is a high-quality gold-yellow edible oil, which is slightly yellowish when bleached.
Quality / Duration of storage
The acid value of an oil may be used as a measure of quality. However, the acid value of the oil must not be too high, as this denotes an excessively high content of free fatty acids, which causes the oil to turn sour. Discoloration may also occur. Linseed oil should have an acid value of at most 1.2 – 1.9%.
Oils and fats spoil by readily becoming rancid. Rancidity is promoted by light, atmospheric oxygen and moisture and leads to changes in odor and taste. Thus, the tanks and barrels must be filled as full as possible, taking into consideration the coefficient of cubic expansion (see Density), so that as little ullage space as possible is left above the cargo. Do not load rancid oil, since it does not meet quality requirements.
Do not accept for loading linseed oil contaminated by ferrous and rust particles or by seawater.
Maximum duration of storage is as follows:
| Temperature | Max. duration of storage | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 15 – 26°C | 4 – 6 weeks | [1] |
Intended use
Linseed oil is used as an edible oil and its good drying capacity makes it suitable for use as a basic raw material in varnish, oil paint, coatings and linoleum production.
Countries of origin
This Table shows only a selection of the most important countries of origin and should not be thought of as exhaustive.
| Europe | Russia, Hungary |
| Africa | Egypt |
| Asia | India |
| America | USA, Canada, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay |
| Australia |
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Packaging
This oil is mainly transported in tanks, and only rarely in barrels.
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Transport
Symbols
 Liquid cargo |
 General cargo |
 Temperature-controlled |
Means of transport
Ship, truck, railroad
Container transport
Tank containers
Cargo handling
Normally, the oil does not need to be heated, since its solidification point is relatively low. However, if temperatures should arise during the voyage which are in the solidification range, the following must be noted: to be able to pump the oil out of the tanks, it must be at the required pumping temperature. This is only possible, however, if the oil has been kept liquid during the voyage (above a minimum temperature). Loading, travel and pumping temperatures must be precisely complied with, since any change in consistency which occurs during transport may prove irreversible.
If the oil solidifies in the tanks, it cannot be liquefied again even by forced heating. In the vicinity of the heating coils, the oil melts, scorches, discolors and becomes rancid.
Pumping out may be difficult in cold weather. The oil may cool too rapidly in the long lines and solid deposits form on the outer walls, which cannot be pumped out and prevent the still liquid cargo from reaching the suction valve. This problem can be solved by appropriate heating or insulation of the lines.
Where the oil is packaged in barrels, the latter have to be handled with appropriate care. Damaged barrels quickly lead to oil leakage and thus to loss of volume or to damage to other parts of the cargo.
Density
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0.927 – 0.935 g/cm3 (hot-pressed) [1] |
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0.930 – 0.935 g/cm³ (cold-pressed) [1] |
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0.930 – 0.935 cm3 [2] |
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0.930 cm3 [11] |
All fats and oils have a particular density (approx. 0.9 g/cm3). With a rise in temperature, however, density diminishes, thereby leading at the same time to an increase in volume. This behavior is described by the coefficient of cubic expansion and is known as thermal dilatation.
The coefficient of cubic expansion amounts to: g = approx. 0.00066°C-1
As a rule of thumb, oils may be expected to increase in volume by 1% of their total volume for each 15°C temperature increase.
When filling the barrels or tanks, attention must however be paid to the expansion behavior of the cargo in the event of a rise in temperature (risk of bursting of barrels).
Stowage space requirements
Special tank
Segregation
Not applicable to liquid cargoes in tanks
Cargo securing
In the case of liquid cargoes, it is important for the ullage space above the cargo to be as small as possible, so that only slight movement of the cargo is possible. Movement in liquid cargoes may have a negative effect on the stability of the means of transport (e.g. during cornering in the case of trucks and trains or when ships roll and pitch).
Barrels have to be secured in such a way that they cannot slip in the hold or on the loading area and suffer damage.
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Risk factors and loss prevention
RF Temperature
Linseed oil has no particular requirements as to storage climate conditions (SC 0).
The solidification temperature is of considerable significance in the transport of fatty oils and fats. They must remain liquid during loading, during the voyage and during unloading. Chill haze (separation) begins if cooling causes the temperature of the oil to approach solidification point, the oil becoming ointment-like and finally solid, such that it is no longer pumpable.
Separation and the associated change in consistency from liquid to solid occurs more readily upon cooling, the higher is the solidification point.
The oils must only be heated by a few °C per day, otherwise the risk of rancidity and other negative changes arises.
The following Table merely constitutes a rough estimate of appropriate temperature ranges. Temperatures may deviate from these values, depending on the particular transport conditions.
| Designation | Temperature range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Loading temperature | 23°C | [1] |
| Travel temperature (favorable temperature range) | 20°C (15 – 26°C) | [1] |
| Solidification temperature | -18 – -27°C (hot-pressed) | [1] |
| -16°C (cold-pressed) | [1] | |
| -15 – -19°C | [2] | |
| Pumping temperature | 23°C | [2] |
Under normal transport conditions, linseed oil is liquid and therefore need not be heated. However, if extremely low temperatures should arise during the voyage which are in the solidification range, the oil has to be heated to prevent losses in quality and to achieve pumpability.
Phase changes at low temperatures will be described with reference to linseed oil from countries of the La Plata basin (Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay):
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-8 – -12°C: cloudy |
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-21°C: viscous |
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-24°C: texture similar to lard |
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-27°C: hardening process is complete |
The travel temperature must be complied with as far as possible during transport, to minimize oxidation processes.
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RF Humidity/Moisture
Fats and fatty oils are insoluble in water. However, contact with water may give rise to soluble lower fatty acids and glycerol, which cause rancidity together with changes in color (yellow to brown), odor and taste as well as gelling and thickening. For this reason, the tanks must be absolutely dry after cleaning.
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RF Ventilation
Ventilation must not be carried out under any circumstances, as it would supply fresh oxygen to the cargo, which would promote oxidation processes and premature rancidity.
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RF Biotic activity
Linseed oil displays 3rd order biotic activity.
It belongs to the class of goods in which respiration processes are suspended, but in which biochemical, microbial and other decomposition processes still proceed.
Care of the cargo during the voyage must be aimed at keeping decomposition processes to a low level.
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RF Gases
Before anybody enters an empty tank, it must be ventilated and a gas measurement carried out. Oxidation processes may lead to a life-threatening shortage of O2.
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RF Self-heating / Spontaneous combustion
The oil may ignite spontaneously in conjunction with sawdust or material residues.
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RF Odor
Linseed has a flowery, hay-like odor and a rough taste, with a slightly bitter aftertaste. If other goods are subsequently transported in the same tanks, oil residues sticking to the tank walls must be removed beforehand, to prevent the risk of odor tainting.
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RF Contamination
| Active behavior | Leaking oil leads to massive contamination and may make whole cargoes unusable. Of considerable significance with regard to tank cleaning is the iodine value, which is a measure of how strong a tendency the oil has to oxidation and thus to drying. Drying is particularly detrimental to tank cleaning, as the oil/fat sticks to the walls and can be removed only with difficulty. On the basis of drying capacity , oils are divided into nondrying, semidrying and drying oils. With the highest iodine value of all the oils (169 – 192), linseed oil is a drying oil, which means that it is subject to severe drying on contact with atmospheric oxygen, so considerably complicating cleaning of the tanks. In addition, considerable weight losses sometimes occur. |
| Passive behavior | Linseed oil is sensitive to contamination by ferrous and rust particles and water (especially seawater). The tanks or barrels must be clean and in a thoroughly hygienic condition before filling. The value of linseed oil may be greatly reduced by mineral oils, resins, fish oil, tallow oil and vegetable oils. If dry goods, such as coconuts, barley etc., have been transported in the tanks beforehand, the tanks must be thoroughly cleaned, as linseed oil is highly sensitive to microorganisms. |
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RF Mechanical influences
In the case of transport in barrels, extreme mechanical stresses, such as dropping, tipping over or bumping, may lead to breakage of the barrels and thus to leakage.
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RF Toxicity / Hazards to health
Before anybody enters a tank, it must be ventilated and a gas measurement carried out. Oxidation processes may lead to a life-threatening shortage of O2. Tanks which previously contained linseed oil may be particularly low in oxygen, as linseed oil consumes large amounts of oxygen.
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RF Shrinkage/Shortage
Where this oil is packaged in barrels, weight loss from leakage is always to be expected.
Linseed oil exhibits only a slight tendency to evaporate. Of all the oils, it is the oil with the greatest drying capacity. Substantial losses may therefore sometimes occur due to adhesion of the cargo to the tank walls.
Weight loss may also occur as a result of thickening of the product by oxidation, polymerization or isomerization, which leave residues stuck to the tank walls.
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RF Insect infestation / Diseases
No risk.
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