SOAP Adsorbent
FAQs
SOAP adsorbent is used for pre-treatment in natural oil before bleaching to eliminate water washing, soap particles, and phosphatides from neutral oil. It adsorbs phospholipids, heavy metals, and other dissolved impurities (saponified matter), improving the overall quality of the oil, including bleached oil.
The recommended dosage is 1 kilogram per ton of oil to ensure proper mixing. However, dosage may vary depending on the plant process and retention time. An average calculation is 200 grams of SOAP adsorbent powder for every 100 ppm of soap in 1,000 kilograms of oil.
No, it is not expensive. A proper process can significantly reduce overall processing costs.
Changes may depend on the existing setup. If your refinery includes a SOAP adsorbent mixing tank, you can start without modifications. If changes are needed, we can assist in optimizing the process flow for the SOAP adsorbent mixing vessel and related oil lines.
By eliminating water washing, you can:
- Save oil losses with water.
- Reduce the powder consumed in the water washing separator.
- Save significant steam used for water heating.
- Lower maintenance costs for separators.
- Reduce DM (Deionized) water usage for washing oil.
SOAP adsorbent can reduce 40–60% of the load in the neutralization process and at least 80% in the Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP). Overall, it reduces the refining process load by 20–30%, extending CIP (Clean-In-Place) intervals and reducing cleaning efforts.
The process operates within the same or faster time compared to traditional methods, eliminating the need for a water wash separator in a continuous refining system.
The adsorbent mixing tank should have a retention time of 1–4 hours, depending on the refinery flow. Dosing should be automated to ensure consistency and avoid manual errors.
For a 500-ton refinery, 500 kilograms of SOAP adsorbent powder should be used daily.
Yes, SOAP adsorbent is effective with various oils, including soybean (both imported and indigenous), sunflower, cottonseed, rice bran, canola, coconut, palm, sesame, corn, groundnut, olive, mustard, and hydrogenated oils. It works in both physical and chemical refining processes.
Key parameters include:
- Soap ppm level.
- Phosphatide (P-content) level in oil.
- Moisture content in neutral oil.
The "un-wash" process can yield better results by reducing heavy metal content (calcium, magnesium, lead) and unsaponified matter compared to the washing process.
Bleaching earth, such as Fuller's earth or montmorillonite, is derived from natural resources and activated by thermal or acid treatments. In contrast, SOAP adsorbent powder is a combination of modified compounds like magnesium silicate, aluminum silicate, and natural silicas.
- Standard parameters include:
- Mixing temperature: 75–87°C.
- Reaction time: 1–3 hours.
- Atmospheric pressure during mixing.
- Moisture level: 0.2–0.4%.
Yes, it can reduce phosphatides, acid value, and red unit color while improving the brightness, transparency, and quality of the final oil.
After degumming, mix the adsorbent powder with degummed oil and transfer it to the bleacher or slurry mixer tank. It can also be mixed with bleaching earth in specific cases.
Yes, it is recommended when the soap ppm is above acceptable limits.
It comprises magnesium silicate, aluminum silicate, high-pore silica, and natural silicas blended with paligorskite as the base material.