Improving the quality of fried oils by using different filter aids

The present study aimed to improve the quality of fried soybean, sunflower, palm and cottonseed oils. Synthetic (Magnesol XL) and natural (diatomaceous earth and kaolin) filter aids were used at various levels (1, 2 and 4%) to adsorb the secondary oxidation products of the oil. The metal patterns (the cations Si, Mg, Ca, Fe, Na, K, Al, Cu, Mn, Zn and the anions CO₃^2?, HCO₃^?, Cl^?, NO₃^?, NO₂^?, SO₄^2?) of Magnesol XL, diatomaceous earth and kaolin were determined. Some physical and chemical properties (refractive index, viscosity, colour, foam height, acid value, peroxide value, thiobarbituric acid value, iodine value, and conjugated diene and polymer contents) of non‐fried, fried and fried–treated soybean, sunflower, palm and cottonseed oils were determined. The frying process was performed at 180 °C ± 5 °C for 12 h continuous heating. The fried oils were treated with the synthetic and natural filter aids at 105 °C for 15 min. The results indicate that Magnesol XL, diatomaceous earth and kaolin contained Si + Mg, Si + Ca and Si + Al, respectively, as the basic metals. Frying soybean, sunflower, palm and cottonseed oils led to significant increases in refractive index, colour, foam height, viscosity, acid value, peroxide value, TBA value, conjugated diene and polymer contents and decrease in iodine value. Treatment of fried oils with Magnesol XL, diatomaceous earth and kaolin at the 1, 2 and 4% levels greatly improved the quality of fried oils. These findings indicate the high efficiency of the filter aids used in the present study in adsorbing the products of oil degradation. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry