Comparative study of soybean oil refining using rice hull silicate and commercial adsorbents

To obtain an edible grade of soybean oil, impurity removal processes are important steps in refining. To remove coloring compounds and free fatty acids, commercial adsorbents (silica gel, activated carbon, aluminum oxide, alumina silicate, acid clay, and zeolite) and rice hull silicate (RHS) were evaluated with respect to their adsorption removal efficiencies for lutein. Various doses of commercial adsorbents and RHS were individually added to degummed soybean oil to remove lutein. The commercial adsorbents and RHS substantially reduced lutein amounts in degummed soybean oil. Silica gel was the most effective adsorbent, followed by acid clay, and RHS. Treatments with adsorbents also reduced the residual free fatty acid (FFA) content. Aluminum oxide was the most effective in removal of FFA (approximately 40% reduction). RHS and rice hull ash (RHA) showed similar deacidification effects. RHS can be used as an alternative bleaching agent as it was effective in reducing the residual FFA content in soybean oil.