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Edible Oil Bleaching
Process Purification & Recovery

Edible Oil Bleaching

Powdered activated carbon and bleaching earth combination for edible oil bleaching to remove chlorophyll, carotenoids, and oxidation products from palm, sunflower, soybean, and canola oils.

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The Challenge
Crude vegetable oils carry chlorophyll, carotenoids, oxidation products, and trace metals that fail the contracted refined oil colour and stability specification. Without bleaching the final oil fails the consumer quality and shelf life requirements.
Quick Answer

Edible oil bleaching removes chlorophyll, carotenoids, and oxidation products from crude vegetable oils (palm, sunflower, soybean, canola) using a combined dose of powdered activated carbon and bleaching earth at 100 to 110 °C. The combined dose targets residual chlorophyll below the contracted limit for the refined oil grade.

Edible Oil Bleaching

Crude Vegetable Oils Need Decolorization

Crude vegetable oils, palm, sunflower, soybean, canola, rapeseed, carry colour bodies from the raw material: chlorophyll (green tint), carotenoids (yellow to red tint), and oxidation products from thermal stress during extraction. These colour bodies fail the contracted refined oil specification (typically Lovibond colour 1.5 R or below for refined palm oil, similar for other oils) and reduce the consumer acceptance and shelf life of the final product.

PAC Plus Bleaching Earth Combination

The standard bleaching route combines two adsorbents. SorbiTech PAC bleaching grade at 0.1 to 0.5 percent dose targets the chlorophyll and the polar oxidation products. Bleaching earth (acid activated montmorillonite clay) at 0.5 to 2 percent dose targets the carotenoids and the non polar contaminants. The combined dose works in synergy, both adsorbents are dosed into the same bleaching tower at 100 to 110 °C for 20 to 30 minutes of contact, then removed together by a downstream filter press.

Edible Oil Bleaching process equipment

Selection by Laboratory Test

Grade selection follows a laboratory bleaching test against the contracted refined oil specification: residual chlorophyll, residual carotenoid (red and yellow Lovibond), peroxide value, and oxidative stability index. The SorbiTech laboratory runs the test and recommends the optimum PAC plus bleaching earth combination for the operator crude oil source and the target refined grade.

Food Grade Compliance

Every shipment ships with the food grade certificate of analysis, Halal and Kosher certification, and FDA / EU Regulation 10/2011 compliance documentation. The SorbiTech manufacturing facility supports the operator HACCP and ISO 22000 audit. Sector coverage is food and beverage.

Selection Guidance

PAC bleaching grade at 0.1 to 0.5 percent dose plus bleaching earth at 0.5 to 2 percent dose. Contact at 100 to 110 °C for 20 to 30 minutes. Filtration through filter press downstream.

How SorbiTech Solves It

A Specified, Verified Solution

Define the duty

We capture your process conditions: flow, composition, pressure, temperature, and the target outlet specification.

Select media & configuration

Our engineers recommend the adsorbent grade and system type that meet the duty with margin.

Size & engineer

Bed sizing, vessel design, and cycle parameters are engineered to your case and documented for approval.

Commission & verify

We support loading, start up, and performance verification against the guarantee.

Recommended Products & Systems

Media

Adsorbents & Media

  1. 01 Powdered Activated Carbon Adsorbent Powdered Activated Carbon Fine powder carbon for slurry dosing in water treatment, sugar decolorization, pharmaceutical purification, and emergency contamination response. Form 200×325 mesh (45–75 µm)
  2. 02 CMS 450hp Adsorbent Carbon Molecular Sieve CMS 450HP Ultra high purity carbon molecular sieve. 99.99999 percent (7N) N2, selective O2 and CO2 capture, 1.0 to 1.6 mm pellets, minimal fines, deoxo polishing… Water Cap. Feed must reach ISO 8573 class 1.4.1, deoxo polishing recommended for 7N %
  3. 03 SorbiTech Impregnated Activated Carbon H2S Acid Gas Mercury Removal Adsorbent Impregnated Activated Carbon Sulfur, KI, or KOH impregnated activated carbon. Mercury below 10 ng per Nm3, H2S and mercaptan capture upstream of catalysts. 4 mm pellet or… Water Cap. Dry feed preferred, water displaces impregnant %
  4. 04 SorbiTech Orapure Activated Carbon Coconut Shell Gold Recovery Cip Cil Adsorbent OraPure Activated Carbon Coconut shell granular activated carbon for gold recovery. 6x12, 6x16, 8x16 mesh, iodine number above 1000 mg/g, optimised pore for high K value, thermal… Water Cap. Low moisture and ash at supply %
  5. 05 Pellet Activated Carbon Adsorbent Pellet Activated Carbon Extruded pellet carbon for gas phase duties: solvent recovery, vapour recovery, odour control, and mercury guard beds. Form 3 mm or 4 mm extruded pellets
  6. 06 Molecular Sieve 5a Adsorbent Molecular Sieve 5A Calcium form 5A zeolite for n paraffin separation, hydrogen purification, and oxygen PSA generation. Pore Ø 5 Å
Equipment

Engineered Systems

  1. 01 SorbiTech Cip Cil Gold Carbon Plant Carbon in Pulp Leach Gold Recovery Equipment CIP CIL Gold Carbon Plant Carbon in pulp (CIP) and carbon in leach (CIL) gold recovery plant using high activity coconut shell granular activated carbon to recover gold cyanide… Capacity 10–200 t/h ore throughput
  2. 02 SorbiTech Biogas Upgrading Unit Biomethane PSA Carbon Molecular Sieve Equipment Biogas Upgrading Unit PSA biogas upgrading unit using carbon molecular sieve to separate carbon dioxide from methane and deliver grid quality bio methane from anaerobic digester biogas… Capacity 50–2,000 Nm³/h raw biogas
  3. 03 SorbiTech Activated Carbon Water Contactor Drinking Water GAC Polishing Contactor Equipment Activated Carbon Water Contactor Granular activated carbon fixed bed water contactor for dechlorination, taste and odour, dissolved organic carbon, and emerging contaminant polishing in drinking water and process… Capacity 5–2,000 m³/h
  4. 04 SorbiTech Vapour Recovery Unit Activated Carbon VRU Solvent Recovery Equipment Vapour Recovery Unit (VRU) Activated carbon vapour recovery unit for tank farms, loading racks, and process vents to capture and recover hydrocarbons before stack release. Capacity 50–10,000 Nm³/h vent gas
Industries

Industries Using This Application

  1. 01 SorbiTech Food Beverage Dairy Processing Stainless Silos Plant Sector Food & Beverage Sugar decolorization, edible oil bleaching, beverage CO₂ purification, and food grade adsorbent media for the food and beverage processing industry.

Specify a Solution for This Application

Provide your process conditions and our team will recommend the grade, configuration, and sizing.

contact@sorbitech.com