Oil decolorization

Activated carbon: The premier choice for oil decolorization. The color of oils directly impacts quality, and natural oils containing carotenoids and other pigments require decolorization. Activated carbon, with its exceptional adsorption properties, has become the core material for oil decolorization. After activation, it forms a microporous, mesoporous, and macroporous structure with a specific surface area of 500-2000 m²/g, providing ample adsorption sites for pigments. Through van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonding, it efficiently captures pigments. Compared to other decolorizing agents, activated carbon demonstrates higher decolorization efficiency, effectively removing high-molecular-weight pigments that are difficult to adsorb while retaining beneficial components like vitamin E. It also simultaneously adsorbs heavy metals, pesticide residues, and other impurities. The typical process involves: pre-treating oils by degumming, deacidification, and dehydration, followed by adding 0.2%-2% activated carbon under vacuum conditions at 80-110°C for 20-60 minutes, then filtering and separating. Its effectiveness depends on inherent properties (specific surface area, pore size), process parameters (temperature, dosage), and oil characteristics. Currently, activated carbon is evolving towards higher efficiency in oil decolorization, with broad application prospects.