Efficient elimination of 3‐monochloropropane‐1,2‐diol fatty acid ester from palm oil via using activated carbon grafted with Tween80.

In the current study, we attempt to remove 3‐monochloropropane‐1,2‐diol fatty acid ester (3‐MCPD ester) from palm oil with developed composite adsorbent (Tween80 modified activated carbon [AC]), and scanning electron microscopy‐energy dispersive spectrometer, Fourier transform‐infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, nitrogen content adsorption‐desorption and thermogravimetric analysis were used to characterize the modifications. We further examined the adsorption capability of the composite adsorbent for 3‐MCPD ester and found that the highest removal efficiency was 87.36% (5.3% of adsorbent dose at 104°C for 29 min). This is approximately three times higher than that of pristine AC, implying that the composite can be employed as a novel adsorbent for 3‐MCPD ester reduction. Along with the adsorption mechanism of Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin–Radushkevich, and Temkin models were also tested. It has been suggested that Freundlich model could best describe the adsorption process. Adsorption was found to be well‐fitted by pseudo‐second‐order kinetics according to the kinetic study. An endothermic and spontaneous adsorption mechanism was demonstrated by the thermodynamic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]