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 extracti on. This process was a modified process for separation of palm carotene fro m CPO by adsorption chromatography with a synthetic polymer adsorbent. Caro tene was concentrated to about 15,000 ppm, which is about 25 times the orig inal concentration in CPO. Carotene recovery varied from 30 to 62% dependin g on the process conditions. Different types of adsorbents, combinations of adsorbents, and adsorbent/CPO ratios were evaluated to determine the effec t 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 Era 50 were capab le of adsorbing substantial amounts of carotene from CPO. Combinations of a dsorbents types HP 20 and SP 850 slightly increased the percentage of carot ene extracted. An adsorbent/CPO ratio of 4 was most suitable for this proce ss for optimal recovery and concentration of carotene.