Activation of a clay for bleaching olive oil

The optimum conditions for acid activation of a clay were determined in order to bleach olive oil. The methodology of experimental research, with an orthogonal central composite design, has been used in this study and the selected variables were temperature, reaction time, initial acid concentration and liquid/solid weight ratio. The last is the most significant factor in the activation process followed in decreasing order of importance, by time, temperature and initial acid concentration. Good agreement between theoretical analysis and experimental results was obtained. The quality of the bleached oil is similar to that of commercial oil. Finally, the low cost of the activated clay makes it economically very attractive.