Abstract:
The separation of palm oil dispersions from water using electric fields was investigated in this study. The experiments were conducted in a batch system. Oil-in-water emulsions consisting of crude palm oil and palm olein in water were used. Electric field generated of 2, 4, 6 and 10 volts/cm were applied to emulsion containing sodium sulfate which was used an electrolytes at concentration of 0.3, 0.6, 3.0, 15.0 and 30.0 millimolar. Oil concentrations in emulsions were at 2, 5, 10 and 15 wt% of oil. The results show that application of low electric fields to palm oil in water emulsion increase demulsification phenomena. Oil droplets in the electric field move and colloid to form larger droplets. Increasing electric field voltage, concentration of oil in emulsion and concentration of electrolyte result in an increase of the rate of demulsification. Comparisons of the rate of demulsification between crude palm oil and palm olein, the rate of demulsification of crude palm oil were less than palm olein. Solid particle suspended in crude palm oil was suspected to be the key factor.
