Acid activation of upper Eocene Ca-bentonite for soybean oil clarification.

In central Tunisia, many upper Eocene outcrops supply smectitic claystone which are characterized by several analytical techniques (calcimetry, XRD, SediGraph, chemical analysis, surface area, etc.). Beidellite is the main mineral detected by the XRD method. Representative raw samples M1, taken from Henchir Souar (Zaghouan, Tunisia), were acid activated in order to improve their physicochemical properties. This study consists in optimizing the activation conditions with HCl 3 N by varying the following parameters: time (2, 4, and 6 h) and temperature (25, 50, 75, and 90 °C). The characterization by XRD and chemical analysis was carried out on the samples (M1, activated for 2 and 6 h at 75 °C), showing a structural modification of the clay by reduction of intensity reflection 001 order of smectite and dissolution of metal ions (Al, Fe, and Mg) from clay structure. Optimum condition for soybean oil clarification is obtained using a variety of amount raw clays (0.5, 0.75, and 1%). Thus, the best clarification yield is given at 0.75% of clay, showing a capacity of about 55%. Various forms of activated materials were used with a 75% proportion to leach soybean oil. Results were compared with commercial bentonite (Tonsil) having surface area (378 m/g). The activated sample M1 during 4 h at 75 °C possesses a decolorizing capacity of about 85% greater than the oil treated by Tonsil in laboratory (58%).