Avaliação da eficiência da recuperação de argilas adsorventes utilizadas na purificação de óleos de soja

Abstract

This research presents an experimental study in order to evaluate the efficiency of recovery of in natura attapulgite adsorbent clays from Brazil and the activated form from United States of America, used in the purification of the crude soybean oil. The study aims the sustainable use of the raw material, in other words, the adsorbent clays, reducing the generation of environmental liabilities. It also presents a technical approach applied in the experimental phase. It was verified a decay in the clarification efficiency from the first to the last purification, what shows loss of the adsorption capability of the clays, which is characterized by the diminution of the minority compounds of the crude oil after the first purification, rising gradually and reaching significant concentrations after the third purification. The purification of the oils showed similar results for both clays, however, the activated attapulgite showed a best performance.