TRIACYLGLYCEROL PURIFICATION BY A CONTINUOUS REGENERABLE ADSORBENT PROCESS.

摘要

An economical and environmentally friendly, "green", process for the continuous purification of triacylglycerol (TAG) is described using a powdered, granulated or extruded adsorbent, which can be used in either the chemical or physical refining of edible oils and fats, both of which are traditionally used to refine TAG. The adsorbent is contained in a column system and is regenerated for reuse multiple times. The process utilizes the adsorbent column system as a treatment after chemical refining or before physical refining rather than water or filtration, respectively, to remove soaps and other impurities entrained in a crude triacylglycerol. In the chemical refining process, the crude degummed triacylglycerol (CDTAG) is first refined to remove FFA, forming a once refined triacylglycerol (ORTAG), and then contacted with an adsorbent packed into column(s) prior to deodorization. In the physical refining process, the crude degummed triacylglycerol (CDTAG) is contacted with an adsorbent packed into column(s) prior to the removal of FFA and subsequent deodorization. The CDTAG or ORTAG is contacted with an adsorbent packed into a column, or multiple columns in series, for a sufficient amount of time to remove impurities such as, but not limited to, soaps, metals, chlorophyll, and many of the other compounds that reduce the stability of the TAG. The resulting TAG exiting the column(s) is ready for the deodorization process. Once the adsorbent no longer removes the desired amount of impurities, it is regenerated for reuse. Such a continuous regenerable adsorbent refining process substantially reduces the amount of fresh water required and the amount of waste water generated to purify TAG and reduces the amount of solid waste produced. The result is a cost effective and environmentally friendly edible oil refining process.