Mitigation of 3-MCPD esters and glycidyl esters during the physical refining process of palm oil by micro and macro laboratory scale refining

• Published in: Food chemistry 2020-10, Vol.328, p.127147-127147, Article 127147
• Main Authors: Sim, Biow Ing, Khor, Yih Phing, Lai, Oi Ming, Yeoh, Chee Beng, Wang, Yong, Liu, Yuanfa, Nehdi, Imededdine Arbi, Tan, Chin Ping
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3-MCPD esters; Glycidyl esters; Mitigation; Physical refining; Response surface methodology
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.127147

•RSM was used to optimize the physical refining process of palm oil.•Bound MCPD and glycidol was successfully reduced with acceptable oil quality.•Interactions and effects of physical processing parameters were evaluated.•Successful application of optimized refining conditions at macro refinery. The reduction of the 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol esters (3-MCPDE) and glycidyl esters (GE) was successfully achieved by the optimization of four processing parameters: phosphoric acid dosage, degumming temperature, bleaching earth dosage, and deodorization temperature by response surface methodology without the need for additional processing steps. The optimized processing conditions were 0.31% phosphoric acid dosage, 50 °C degumming temperature, 3% bleaching earth dosage, and 240 °C deodorization temperature. The optimization resulted in more than 80% and 65% reduction of 3-MCPDE and GE levels, respectively with color and FFA contents maintained in the acceptable range specified by Palm Oil Refiners Association of Malaysia. The optimized refining condition was transferred to macro scale refining units of 1 kg and 3 kg capacities to investigate its successful application during scale-up process.