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

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 degrees 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.