Establishment of an effective refining process for Moringa oleifera kernel oil

• Main Authors: Abd Hadi, Husna Madihah, Tan, Chin Ping, Mohamad Shah, Nur Khalishah, Tan, Tai Boon, Niranjan, Keshavan, Mat Yusoff, Masni
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2021
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/97132/1/ABSTRACT.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/97132/; https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9717/9/4/579

This study systematically established the most effective refining process for Moringa oleifera (MO) kernel oil. Acid degumming (20.33 ± 1.37 ppm) removed significantly greater phosphorus than water degumming (31.18 ± 0.90 ppm). Neutralization was more effective than deodorization in decreasing the acid (0.06 mg KOH/g) and p-Anisidine (p-AV, 0.36 ± 0.03) values of the oil. Besides improving its color properties, acid-activated bleaching earth Type B was better than Types A and C in decreasing the oil’s p-AV (0.43 ± 0.02), acid value (3.96 ± 0.02 mg KOH/g), and moisture content (0.01 ± 0.00% w/w). The selected refining stages successfully produced MO kernel oil with acceptable peroxide value (PV, 1.66–3.33 meq/kg), p-AV (1.05–1.49), total oxidation value (TOTOX, 4.38–8.15), acid value (0.03 mg KOH/g), moisture content (0.01% w/w), phosphorus content (1.28–1.94 ppm), iodine value (80.79–81.03), oleic acid (79.52–79.65%), and tocopherol content (65.26–87.00 mg/kg).