Optimization of Operating Conditions for Separation of Non Polar Lipids Fraction from Soybean Oil Deodorizer Distillate by Regenerated Silica Gel

Silica gel type, polarity and composition of constituent compounds in SODD are important to determine the separation performance of modified soxhlet extraction. It was possible to use regenerated silica gel and achieve the same degree of separation as that obtained by fresh silica gel. The method is by optimizing operation conditions, such as regenerated silica gel to SODD mass ratio and extraction time, during modified soxhlet extraction. If fresh silica gel is used in modified soxhlet extraction, 100% squalene and 93% FASEs can be removed from SODD and concentrated in NPLF by using a silica gel to SODD mass ratio of 3 and an extraction time of 12 h. It was found that the same degree of separation could be achieved by using a silica gel to SODD mass ratio of 5 and extraction time of 60 h when using the 1st regenerated silica gel. On the other hand, when using the 2nd regenerated silica gel, in order to achieve the same degree of separation as that of using fresh silica gel, a silica gel to SODD mass ratio of 8 and an extraction time of 110 h have to be used.