Abstract

FOLETTO, E. L.; VOLZONE, C.  and  PORTO, L. M.. Clarification of cottonseed oil: how structural properties of treated bentonites by acid affect bleaching efficiency. Lat. Am. appl. res. [online]. 2006, vol.36, n.1, pp.37-40. ISSN 0327-0793.

Natural occurring bentonites may show very little activity for bleaching oils and fats. For that reason, acid-activation of bentonites with inorganic acids is usually carried out to promote earths' adsorptive capacity during clarification of vegetable and animal oils and fats, as well as mineral oils. In this work we used two acid-activated natural bentonites from Mendoza, Argentina, with different mineral compositions and submitted them to acid treatment with hydrochloric acid to further clarify cottonseed oil. Both clays were treated with HCl at 4 and 8N for two hours in order to evaluate important structural properties modifications that may affect oil bleaching. X-ray diffraction, thermal and chemical composition analyses were performed. Cottonseed oil clarification experiments were run in previously established appropriated laboratory conditions. It was shown that clarification efficiency is strongly dependent on the acid concentration and natural clay mineral compositions used to activate the bentonites for the clarification process.

Keywords : Oil Clarification; Acid-Activated Clay; Bleaching of Vegetable Oil.

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