InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – De-acidification is a method which could solve the limitation of the method of deodorization which exists. de-asidification of solvent is the easiest, simplest, and most economical process
One phase in crude palm oil (CPO) process is deodorization. It is done to vanish free fatty acid (FFA), the compound or component needed, the component which produces bad smell, without making the damage of oil (hydrolyzed) of the process.
Deodorization is the important phase in the refining process of CPO for it influences the quality of the last product, such as, the characteristic of organoleptic, stability, nutrients, and the functional characteristic.
The market demands to minimize the making of trans fatty acid and to maintain the ingredient of tocopherol or tocotrienol are the challenges to develop deodorization technology in more efficient process (relatively cheap operational cost, but high yield, and cheaper equipment).
Deodorization is the removal process by using the heat (steam) (> 200oC) in the vegetable oil within high temperature, certain time, and low pressure which is the physical process. Some components will be easy to evaporate and vanishing but the chemical and thermal effect might occur.
The vanishing of FFA from palm oil represents the simplest phase but it is difficult in the refining process for it determines the quality of the end product. The deodorization process could influence the economic of the oil production for the inefficient process will have big influence of the next operational process.
De-acidification is the method which could solve the limitation of the available process.
The alternative approach which could be done to de-asidification method of palm oil is the enzymatic biological de-acidification, re-esterification de-acidification (chemical modification), membrane de-acification, super critical liquid extraction de-acidification, and solvent de-acidification.
(now it becomes Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional/BRIN).
for more, please read Majalah InfoSAWIT, February 2017
