Evaluation of different types of synthetic adsorbents for carotene extraction from crude palm oil

Palm carotene was successfully concentrated from crude palm oil (CPO) by an adsorption process using synthetic adsorbents followed by solvent extraction. This process was a modified process for separation of palm carotene from CPO by adsorption chromatography with a synthetic polymer adsorbent. Carotene was concentrated to about 15,000 ppm, which is about 25 times the original concentration in CPO. Carotene recovery varied from 30 to 62% depending on the process conditions. Different types of adsorbents, combinations of adsorbents, and adsorbent/CPO ratios were evaluated to determine the effect on the percentage of carotene extracted. Commercial synthetic adsorbents HP 20 (styrene-divinyl copolymer); synthetic aromatic porous resin SP 850, SP 825; and synthetic adsorbents Relite Exa 32 and Relite Exa 50 were capable of adsorbing substantial amounts of carotene from CPO. Combinations of adsorbents types HP 20 and SP 850 slightly increased the percentage of carotene extracted. An adsorbent/CPO ratio of 4 was most suitable for this process for optimal recovery and concentration of carotene.