REGENERABLE CALCIUMH YDROXYCITRATE ADSORBENT FOR EFFICIENT PHOSPHOLIPID REMOVAL IN CRUDE PALM OIL DEGUMMING
Degumming is a critical step in refining crude palm oil (CPO) to remove phospholipids (gums), whichcannegatively impact oil quality and processing efficiency. While conventional chemical and enzymatic degummingmethods are widely used, they often suffer from drawbacks such as limited efficiency in removing non-hydratablephospholipids (NHPs), increased oil loss, environmental concerns, and high operational costs. Moreover, thepotential of regenerable hybrid organic-inorganic adsorbents for efficient and selective phospholipid removal remains underexplored. Addressing this research gap, the present study investigates the efficacy of two calcium- based adsorbents—calcium silicate (CaSiO3) and calcium hydroxycitrate acid (Ca3(HCA)2)—in reducingphospholipid content from CPO. The adsorbents were synthesised and characterised through EDTA titration, HPLC, and FT-IR spectroscopy. Adsorption experiments were conducted at 100 °C using varying adsorbent doses (2–8g) with 2 g of CPO. Phosphorus content was quantified to estimate phospholipid removal efficiency. Results showedthat Ca3(HCA)2 achieved superior gum removal, with up to 100% phospholipid reduction using 6 g of adsorbent, outperforming CaSiO3. Regeneration of Ca3(HCA)2 was successfully achieved via acid-base treatment, allowingreuse in subsequent cycles. FT-IR analysis confirmed the adsorption of phospholipids without residual adsorbent contamination, indicating clean separation and high affinity of the adsorbents for gum components. The recoveredphospholipid-rich fraction also demonstrated potential for downstream applications. This work highlights thepromise of Ca3(HCA)2 as a highly effective and regenerable adsorbent, offering an environmentally friendlyandcost-efficient alternative to conventional degumming. The findings support further exploration of hybrid adsorbent systems in sustainable edible oil refining technologies. The study provides an alternative approach to conventional degumming technologies and contributes to improving efficiency and sustainability in edible oil refining.
Readers around the world
