Adsorption of 3‐monochloropropane‐1,2‐diol ester and glycidyl ester from refined bleached deodorized palm oil using zeolite‐based adsorbents

Abstract

Palm oil processing can result in different food products like cooking oil and margarine. Nevertheless, these food products might contain harmful contaminants, namely 3‐monochloropropane‐1,2‐diol ester (3‐MCPDE) and glycidyl ester (GE), which can negatively affect animal organs and potentially cause human cancer. Therefore, the objective of this study was to lower the concentration of 3‐MCPDE and GE in refined, bleached, and deodorized palm oil (RBDPO) using zeolite as an adsorbent. Adsorption experiments were conducted in a batch reactor, varying the percentage of adsorbents, temperature, type of zeolite, and the use of a mixture of zeolite and activated carbon (AC). The sample was analyzed before and after adsorption using gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) to confirm the concentration alteration of 3‐MCPDE and GE. The study showed that the most effective temperature for adsorption was 35°C and used a zeolite percentage of 2%. Beta zeolites resulted in the highest removal of 3‐MCPDE (86%) among the evaluated zeolites attributed to their elevated pore volume, Si/Al ratio, and overall acidity strength. Through a synergistic combination of beta zeolite and AC, the removal percentage of 3‐MCPDE was enhanced to 94%, with a corresponding 75% reduction in GE. This study paves the way for addressing 3‐MCPDE and GE concerns in RBDPO by combining zeolite and AC.