Adsorbent’s type vs. adsorption efficiency of undesirable substances from edible niche oils

Principal Investigator: M.Sc. Kamil Czwartkowski

The aim of the project is to determine the effectiveness of selected adsorbents in removing undesirable substances from edible niche oils, as well as to test the adsorption capacity of selected solutes in pumpkin seed oil and walnut oil obtained by high-temperature pressing. Mixtures of different adsorbents, exhibiting different physicochemical properties, will be created to meet the project goal. Acquiring basic knowledge in the subject under discussion will allow to check whether the designed adsorbent mixtures show a synergistic or antagonistic effect towards adsorbing undesirable substances.

In the first stage, the initial quality parameters of the selected oils will be determined and the adsorption capacity of the adsorbents will be verified. In the second stage, the oils will be purified with adsorbents based on bentonite, clays, kerolite, alumina and activated carbon, with different compositional variants, modifications and process running temperatures. The effect of the adsorbent used on the profile of solutes adsorbed from oil will then be investigated using known methods for determining solutes in oil. In the third stage, based on the results of the planned research, an adsorbent mixture dedicated to removing excess chlorophylls, free fatty acids and phospholipids from the niche oils selected for testing will be designed. It expects to obtain an adsorption mixture dedicated to removing undesirable substances from edible oils, but minimizing the removal of oil components that positively affect human health (phytosterols, carotenoids, essential fatty acids, polyphenols).

Funding organization:
National Science Center

Programme:
PRELUDIUM 22

Project duration:
04/07/2024 – 03/07/2026

Funding amount:
139 834 PLN

Project status:
Project in progress