MACAUBA PULP OIL BLEACHING USING COMMERCIAL ADSORBENT AND ACTIVATED CARBON FROM ENDOCARP OF THE OWN FRUIT

Lorena Aires Lombardi Queiroz; Thamires Soares Araújo; Maria Helena Caño Andrade

doi:10.18540/jcecvl2iss2pp057-069

Authors

Lorena Aires Lombardi Queiroz Federal University of Minas Gerais
Thamires Soares Araújo Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (PUC-MG)
Maria Helena Caño Andrade Federal University of Minas Gerais

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18540/jcecvl2iss2pp057-069

Keywords:

oil refining, oil bleaching, Acrocomia aculeata, Macauba pulp oil, activated carbon.

Abstract

Macauba Palm (Acrocomia aculeata) is a promising source of vegetable oil with production capacity of up to 5000 kg/ha. The refining process is essential to impurities removal and also to obtain oil with color more appreciated by consumers. Covering a literature failing, the aim of this study was to investigate the Macauba pulp oil refining focusing at bleaching stage by assessing the temperature effect and amount of commercial adsorbent. Further was evaluated the use of activated carbon produced from the endocarp of own Macauba fruit as a partial replacer of bleaching earths. Conventional methods were employed and results were analyzed considering bleaching capacity, acidity index and phosphorus content. The use of 6% commercial adsorbent at 90 ^oC led to a bleaching capacity about 84% while the use of a commercial adsorbent mixed with activated carbon resulted in a bleaching capacity superior to 90% and with greater percentage of phospholipids removal.

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Author Biographies

Lorena Aires Lombardi Queiroz, Federal University of Minas Gerais

Degree in Food Engineering and doctoral student of Chemical Engineering department.

Thamires Soares Araújo, Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (PUC-MG)

Chemical engineering student

Maria Helena Caño Andrade, Federal University of Minas Gerais

Graduated in Chemical Engineering from the Federal University of São Carlos (1983), Master (1991) and PhD (1997) in Chemical Engineering from the School of Chemical Engineering of UNICAMP and Postdoctoral Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Biomaterials Science and Engineering Laboratory . She is currently Professor of the Federal University of Minas Gerais. Has experience in the area of Chemical Engineering, with emphasis on the Chemical Engineering Processes, acting on the following topics: Applied Thermodynamics, Thermodynamics of Phase Equilibria, Separation Processes of Software Development, Analysis, Modeling and Equipment Simulation and Industrial Processes. Currently, research has been directed towards the implementation of the agro-industry Macaúba by investigating the use of the fruit of Macaúba to obtain quality oils and co-products for energy production, food products and cosmetics.