Application of integrated molecular distillation-adsorption process for deacidification and recovery of vitamin E and carotenoids from palm oil

Palm oil is a natural source of phytonutrients such as vitamin E and carotenoids. However, these high-value compounds are lost during conventional refining. These phytonutrients can be separated and recovered from crude palm oil (CPO) through methods which prevents the degradation of these compounds. This study evaluated the integrated approach of molecular distillation and adsorption, with the aim of deacidifying and separating vitamin E and carotenoids from CPO, allowing their recovery. Wiped-film molecular distillation (WFMD) was used for deacidification and vitamin E enrichment, the best results were obtained at 200 °C and 21 mL/min. The distillate stream was enriched 937.8% in vitamin E, and the residue stream (named deacidified palm oil - DAPO), enriched in carotenoids, reached 0.1% free fatty acids (FFA). Integration with the adsorption process achieved a carotenoids removal of 79.4% from the DAPO stream. Moreover, the kinetic constant (k2) of adsorption increased by around 87% for DAPO, a result attributed to the absence of fat crystals on the adsorbent surface verified by scanning electron microscopy. Notably, the integrated process approach used is an innovative methodology for the vegetable oil industry presenting an alternative route that allows the preservation and recovery of phytonutrients, and the oil deacidification.