Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Article Title: EXPERIMENTAL PROCESS DESIGN FOR SORPTION CAPACITY OF KOGI AND IBUSA CLAYACTIVATED WITH IN PALM OIL BLEACHING
by Uzoh F Chigozie, and Odera R Stone

Abstract:
The palm oil bleaching process was optimized through characteristic study of the sorption capacity of IBUSA and KOGI clay activated with nitric and sulphuric acids. The response surface methodology based on was applied for the process analysis. The process variability due to the interactions of system parameters such as acid concentration, bleaching temperature, contact time, clay-oil ratio and particle size distribution was analyzed employing the characterization-control-optimization paradigm necessary for detailed process design for optimum bleaching efficiency. A sequence of experiments were carried out at different settings of the process variables prescribed by the experimental design and the interactive sorption effects of the system parameters were calculated in terms of adsorption efficiency. Predictive equation for the process response was developed from regression analysis of the experimental data from which maximum mean adsorption strength of 40units was predicted for both specimens through activation with acid while acid recorded relatively low adsorption strength with KOGI clay and negligible strength with IBUSA sample. Overall, acid activated KOGI clay shows robustness to expanded variable effects.

Keywords: sorption, experimental design, characterization, bleaching, response surface methodology

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