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Oil Glossary

Oil Glossary

The oil glossary from A to Z

Smoke point, polyphenols, viscosity, novel food: all the key oil terms, explained briefly and clearly.

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All terms from A to Z

A

ACEA standardEuropean performance classes for motor oil , what an oil must do.

B

Building Energy Act (GEG)The law on heating and buildings , pushing back fossil heating.

C

Carbon levyA price on CO2 emissions , makes fossil heating dearer year by year.Cold pressing & virginGentle extraction without heat, preserving taste and compounds. Virgin and extra virgin explained.Condensing technologyHeating technology that uses flue-gas heat , more efficient than old boilers.

H

Hexane extractionIndustrial solvent process for oil extraction , honestly sorted.

L

Limit sensor (overfill protection)Overfill protection on the heating oil tank , mandatory during delivery.Linoleic acidThe most important omega-6 fatty acid , essential, often in excess.Low-sulphur heating oilHeating oil with reduced sulphur , the standard for condensing boilers.

M

MCT oilOil from medium-chain fatty acids, mostly from coconut , popular, heavily advertised.

N

Novel foodEU term for new foods , relevant for CBD oil.

O

Omega fatty acidsOmega-3 and omega-6, why the ratio counts and where they are found.

P

PolyphenolsPlant compounds that give virgin olive oil its note , antioxidants in the oil.

R

Rancidity & oxidationWhen oil goes old , spotting and avoiding it.RefiningIndustrial post-treatment making oil neutral, pale and long-lasting , pros and cons.

S

Saturated & unsaturated fatsStructure and heat behaviour of fats , simply explained.Smoke pointThe temperature at which an oil smokes and breaks down , and which oil takes which…

T

Trans fatty acidsForm during hardening and overheating, rated especially unfavourable.

V

ViscosityHow thick an oil is , central for motor oil and the SAE grade.

W

Water protection rules (AwSV)German rules protecting soil and water , govern heating oil tanks.

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