Separation of crude beta-carotene from palm olein by adsorption with synthetic polymer

Abstract

The objective of this research was to investigate the suitable separation condition of crude β-carotene from palm olein and degummed palm olein using polystyrene-divinylbenzene (PSDVB) as adsorbent in batch system. The effects of adsorption time (15, 30 60 and 90 minutes), oil dilution (1:0, 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 by wt.) and adsorption temperature (35 and 60℃) on separation of crude β-carotene from palm olein and degummed palm olein were investigated to determine the suitable condition. Results shown that equilibrium adsorption time of both palm olein and degummed palm olein are at 60 minutes. The % recovery of crude β-carotene from degummed palm olein for all experiments gave higher values than palm olein. In case of oil dilution, at each oil dilutions, % adsorption of crude β-carotene increased with an increase of time until it was nearly constant at 60 minutes. The more oil was diluted, the higher % adsorption and % recovery were clearly obtained. Comparison of % adsorption and % recovery at 60 minutes from palm olein and degummed palm olein at different oil dilution, there were not significantly different from each other. % Desorption decreased as oil dilution increased. In case of adsorption temperature we found that the higher adsorption temperature, the higher % adsorption and % recovery were obtained. The results also showed that % recovery increased as adsorption temperature increased and there is not significantly different of % recovery between palm olein and degummed palm olein. % Recovery at 60℃ and 60 minutes were 28.67 % for palm olein and 28.30 % for degummed palm olein. For our work, we concluded in term of amount of β-carotene recover that the suitable condition was at 60℃ adsorption temperature for 60 minutes. Non diluted palm olein (in stead of degummed palm olein) is recommended.