Search

This study aims to recover carotenes from crude palm oil, which are typically destroyed during refining, despite their high nutritional value and vitamin activity. The proposed approach involves the continuous adsorption of carotenes from crude palm oil onto polymeric resins, specifically Diaion HP-20. To evaluate the adsorption process, breakthrough experiments were conducted using solutions consisting of 10% oil and 90% isopropanol (w/w) at a temperature of 313 K. The experimental data obtained from the breakthrough experiments were successfully predicted by a Linear Driving Force (LDF) model, indicating its adequacy in describing the adsorption process. The shape of the breakthrough curve was found to be significantly influenced by the variation in axial dispersion (Dax). The estimated mass transfer coefficient (KL) varied from 2.25 for the fresh resin to 1.31 min−1 for the two-times regenerated, and the diffusion in the adsorbate (DH) was 0.0202 mm2/min; the average capacity of the solid phase was 0.78, 0.76 and 0.72 mg/g for fresh, one-time and two-time regenerated resins, respectively. FTIR analysis provided evidence of the formation of ester bonds between the polymeric resin and the oil, confirming the occurrence of chemical interactions during the adsorption process. MicroCT analysis indicates the presence of intraparticle diffusion phenomena within the resin. A notable outcome of this study was the potential for reusing the polymeric resin for multiple cycles without a significant loss in its adsorptive capacity. This suggests the feasibility and promising nature of removing carotenes from crude palm oil through the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]