Refining of Groundnut Oil Using Activated Clay and Melon Husk.

Abstract

Refining of groundnut oil was carried out by degumming the oil, neutralization, bleaching using activated clay and melon husk and deodorization. The physicochemical properties of the refined groundnut oils analyzed shows that activated melon husk done at 7000C for 60 minutes gave the best results for free fatty acid and acid value in terms of reduction in the value between crude and the refined oil as they reduce from 1. 55 to 0.71 and 3.09 to 1.40 mg KOH/g respectively. The perioxide value obtained for activated clay has the latest value and it conforms with Codex standards. Activated melon husk at 3000C in 40 minutes gave the best saponification value which decreased from 193.55 to 154.28 mg KOH/g while activated clay gave the least iodine value from 84.01 to 77.41 mg I2 /g . Both activated melon husk and clay were efficient in improving the quality of the groundnut oil for consumption.