Bleaching Potentials of Local, Foreign and Regenerated Bleaching Earth: Comparative Study

Abstract

Siaka Abdulfatai Adabara^*_, Lucky Evelyn Annaand Salihu Takuma

The deposition of spent earth causes environmental pollution, which affects the quality of life. In this work, the bleaching of vegetable oil was carried out using three different bentonite samples (foreign, local and regenerated bentonites), at varying temperatures. The optimum bleaching temperature was 90 ⁰C with 90 %, 60 % and 63 % colour removal for 2 %(w/w)  foreign, local and regenerated bleaching earth respectively. Therefore, local and regenerated bleaching earth that competes fairly well with foreign bentonite, has the potential to reduce environmental pollution from huge importation by industries. Most importantly, it is anticipated that the regeneration of spent bleaching clay in the edible oil refining industries would greatly contribute to reducing environmental pollution problems and saving costs.