course description
registration
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.
Ready to register?
Registration opens on January 12, 2026. Please check back soon!
Location: Hyatt Regency New Orleans
601 Loyola Ave, New Orleans, LA 70113
Price: Non-Member: $1,250.00 | AOCS Member: $950.00 | AOCS Student Member: $500.00
2026 COURSE INSTRUCTORS
Brent German
Brent German has over 25 years of experience in engineering and process management within the fields of fats, oils, biofuels, and cellulosic sugars. His global expertise spans numerous countries, where he has contributed to optimizing processes such as chemical and physical refining, bleaching, and deodorization. With a deep understanding of refining workflows and operational parameters, Brent brings practical insights to help learners master refining techniques and process optimization.
Alan Paine
Alan Paine is an accomplished chemical engineer with extensive experience in vegetable oil refining. Over a 36-year career, he has developed expertise in refining processes such as degumming, fractionation, and neutralization. With a focus on practical applications, Alan’s teaching emphasizes refining process improvements and operational efficiency, empowering participants with strategies to optimize plant performance.
Joanna Wawrzynczyk
Joanna Wawrzynczyk has spent over two decades developing enzymatic processes for various industries. She is currently a science manager at an international company researching biotechnological solutions for vegetable oils refining. Prior to joining the industry, she was a professor in pure and applied biochemistry at Lund Technical University in Sweden. Joanna’s instruction combines technical detail with practical applications, helping learners grasp the science behind oil refining and process improvement.
Bryan Yeh
Bryan Yeh brings over 35 years of experience spanning agribusiness, biofuels, and renewable energy. His expertise includes cold pressing, hydrogenation, and sustainable aviation fuel production, with a focus on integrating innovative techniques into refining practices. Bryan’s teaching provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of emerging technologies and their role in refining and sustainable production.
nEW INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT
Gil Wang
In 2026, this short course will welcome Gil Wang, Director of R&D at Bunge, whose expertise in contaminant mitigation and product development adds depth to the program’s focus on innovation, analytical rigor, and processing challenges. His perspective strengthens the course’s relevance for R&D scientists, QA specialists, technical engineers, and leaders overseeing product performance or operational risk.
what's new in 2026?
This year's short course also features an expanded module on Palm Oil processing, a timely addition given the course’s location in New Orleans—one of the U.S. Gulf Coast’s key import hubs for palm and other tropical oils, and a region central to the rapid growth of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production.
Attendees will gain context around how crude palm oil behaves differently from other feedstocks, how refining pathways adjust for palm-specific impurities, and how these considerations intersect with downstream fuel manufacturing requirements.
Across two days, the curriculum covers the complete refining sequence—from seed preparation and extraction through degumming, neutralization, bleaching, deodorization, modification, and quality assessment—while tying each step to real-world decision-making.
The inclusion of updated content on bio-and renewable diesel processing ensures participants leave with a comprehensive understanding of the technical, regulatory, and operational factors shaping today’s oil and fuel markets.
Ready to register?
Registration opens on January 12, 2026. Please check back soon!
Location: Hyatt Regency New Orleans
601 Loyola Ave, New Orleans, LA 70113
Price: Non-Member: $1,250.00 | AOCS Member: $950.00 | AOCS Student Member: $500.00
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.
- Recognize the unique characteristics of palm oil and understand the refining adjustments required for palm-based feedstocks.
- 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 (supported by new instruction from Gil Wang and Joanna Wawrzynczyk).
- Connect refining principles to plant-level decision-making, including optimization, troubleshooting, and economic considerations.
who should attend?
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—including Palm Oil processing and renewable fuel pretreatment.
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
Ready to register?
Registration opens on January 12, 2026. Please check back soon!
Location: Hyatt Regency New Orleans
601 Loyola Ave, New Orleans, LA 70113
Price: Non-Member: $1,250.00 | AOCS Member: $950.00 | AOCS Student Member: $500.00