(Stillwater, Okla. – May 21, 2013)

An Oklahoma State University and Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center graduate student was awarded the American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS) Processing Division Student Excellence Award for her research related to canola oil processing.

Meizhen Xie, OSU biosystems and agricultural engineering and food science graduate student, was recognized for this accomplishment at the AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo in April.

“The AOCS Processing Division Student Award recognizes outstanding research and presentation by a student researching oilseed handling preparation and extraction, refining and processing, oil products and packaging, feed ingredients, byproduct utilization, safety and health and environmental concerns,” said Nurhan Dunford, FAPC oil/oilseed specialist.

Xie is a student member of the AOCS, an international professional organization that strives to advance the science and technology of oils, fats, surfactants and related materials. Xie said it was by being a member that she became aware of the award.

“I am a student member of AOCS, and the award is open to any student members,” Xie said. “My adviser, Dr. Dunford, encouraged me to complete the application process for the award.”

After submitting the application materials, Dunford said it was up to the selection committee to choose the most deserving candidate for the award.

“At least three professional division members serve on the selection committee and evaluate the quality of the research, as well as achievements of the nominated students in his/her field,” Dunford said.

Dunford said Xie’s research consists of developing new and high value products from canola oil processing byproducts.

“My research involves collecting canola lecithin from the crude canola oil using the relatively new enzymatic technology,” Xie said. “Also, analyzing the composition and emulsifying properties of the canola lecithin collected.”

This research has already produced beneficial data and will continue to be useful in the future, Dunford said.

“Meizhen’s research has already provided a lot of high quality scientific data that helps us to understand physical and chemical properties and processing characteristics of a complex system, such as gums, a byproduct from crude vegetable oil refining,” Dunford said. “I expect that Meizhen’s research will lead to the development of emulsifiers that will have improved functionality in food formulations and beneficial biological activity in the human body as compared to the similar products available in the market today.”

The award included a certification and honorarium that was presented at the 104th AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo in Montréal, Québec, Canada, April 28-May 1, 2013.

“The annual meeting is held in a different city every year,” Dunford said. “This year’s annual meeting was in Montréal, Québec, Canada. Thousands of industry personnel, scientists and students from USA, Canada, Europe, Asia, Japan, Austria and other parts of the world attended the meeting.”

Dunford said she was not surprised when she was notified that Xie was the recipient of this award.

“I was very pleased, but not surprised,” Dunford said. “Meizhen is an excellent student, and a good scientist. She generates high quality research data, and I am proud of her.”

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Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant system of interdisciplinary programs that prepares students for success. OSU is America’s Brightest Orange. Through leadership and service, OSU is preparing students for a bright future and building a brighter world for all. As Oklahoma’s only university with a statewide presence, OSU improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation and the world through integrated, high-quality teaching, research and outreach. OSU has more than 36,000 students across its five-campus system and more than 24,000 on its combined Stillwater and Tulsa campuses, with students from all 50 states and around 120 nations. Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 245,000 students to serve Oklahoma, the nation and the world.