Effect of MgO to Fatty Acid Molar Ratio on the Production of Magnesium Salt of Fatty Acid from Palm Fatty Acid Distillates (PFAD) for Food Additives

Abstract

Palm Fatty Acid Distillate (PFAD), a by-product of CPO industry, contains approx. 82%-wt of free fatty acids, which can be utilized as raw material for Magnesium Salts of Fatty Acids (Mg-PFAD). The objectives of the experiment were to produce Mg-PFAD salts through saponification-fusion reaction of PFAD at low temperature and ambient pressure and investigate the effect of MgO to fatty acid molar ratio on reaction conversion and yield. Next, washing Mg-PFAD salts with ethanol was able to facilitate the recovery of vitamin E (tocopherol and tocotrienol) from PFAD. Composition of Mg-PFAD were determined by AAS and GC analysis. Based on the data, yield of Mg-PFAD was increased by the increased of MgO to PFAD molar ratio. Mg-content of the product was within the standard according to FAO reference (4-5%-wt). Reaction was completed within 5-7 min after the addition of H2O (as catalyst).

Vitamin E Extraction from Magnesium Salts of Palm Fatty Acid Distillates

“…From the two batches of saponification, approximately 1.2 kg of Mg-PFAD was produced per kg PFAD. The Mg-PFAD product mixture still contained about 39%-wt of unsaponified FFA, which Vitamin E Extraction from Magnesium Salts of Palm Fatty Acid Distillates corresponds well with the result of Listianingrum, et al [10] at the same MgO to PFAD molar ratio. This high amount of unsaponified FFA may be due to the fast formation of a lumpy soap mass, which hinders the completion of the saponification reaction.…”

“…PFAD was saponified with magnesium oxide (MgO) in a 15-L jacketed reactor with a blade stirrer in the bottom part of the reactor following the methods from Listyaningrum, et al [10] and Lestari, et al [11,12]. Production of Mg-PFAD salt was started by melting the 1.5 kg PFAD in the reactor at 60 °C, followed by the addition of MgO powder at a molar ratio of 1.1 mol MgO/mol PFAD.…”

“…The disadvantages of these methods are high investment costs due to the high energy requirements and large amounts of waste. Therefore, this research isolated vitamin E from PFAD through neutralization of the fatty acids (saponification) using magnesium oxide (MgO), resulting in a mixture of magnesium salts of palm fatty acid distillates (Mg-PFAD) and unsaponifiable vitamin E, followed by extraction of vitamin E using food-grade organic solvents [9,10]. Mg-PFAD salt is insoluble in water and organic solvents, and solidifies at room temperature in the form of a white precipitate, which enables separation of vitamin E by solvent extraction, resulting in an extract rich with vitamin E. This research studied how type of organic solvent and number of extraction stages affect the vitamin E cumulative extraction yield and recovery rate from Mg-PFAD.…”

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“…Saponification of the PFAD was carried out based on the modified fusion method [18], which was further adjusted following the method from Listianingrum, et al [19]. The PFAD and the HPFAD were melted briefly at 60 ºC, followed by MgO addition with an MgO to PFAD molar ratio of 1.1 mol MgO/mol PFAD.…”

“…The amount of water added is 0.3-5.0 moles per mole of MgO. The advantage of the modified fusion method is that the reaction takes only about 3-5 minutes at lower temperature (65-121℃) [18,19].…”