Renewable Oils from Clariant: TONSIL®

As awareness of the health benefits of soya, sunflower, canola, corn, coconut and palm oils grows, and as research continues into how to leverage their nutritional value, global consumer demand for vegetable oils, particularly edible oils, continues to rise steadily. Beyond their use in cooking, vegetable oils are found in processed foods including salad dressings, spreads, margarines, mayonnaise and confectionery. However, raw, unprocessed vegetable oils can contain numerous impurities and unwanted substances. These substances can cause the oil to become rancid, change in colour and consistency, prevent its use in certain processes, and even create health risks for consumption. For edible oils to be flavourful and safe, to have long shelf lives, and to preserve their natural colours, tastes and aromas while becoming heat-resistant during cooking, Clariant's bleaching earth TONSIL plays an important role. Strict limits on harmful chemical compounds, 3-monochloropropane diol (3-MCPD) and glycidyl esters (GE), are essential to meet industry standards for edible oil consumption. TONSIL prevents the formation of 3-MCPD, which can arise during refining especially in crude palm oil, by separating precursors such as metals and polar compounds from the oil. TONSIL also acts as a catalyst in the removal of glycidyl esters, helping to reduce GE levels. The purification process is carried out with the help of bleaching earth obtained from the natural clay mineral bentonite. During activation of bentonite with mineral acid, its layered structure is altered, causing calcium, magnesium and aluminium ions to separate from the structure and hydrogen ions to replace them, thereby increasing surface area and pore size through activation. Thanks to the activated and substantially expanded surface area and pore size, impurities and unwanted substances are bound to the clay and effectively removed from the oil.

Sourced Sustainably

Clariant's high-activity TONSIL bleaching earths provide effective purification solutions that allow for the removal of unwanted impurities in oils and significantly improve the product quality and shelf lives of edible oils. These naturally sourced bentonite clays, extracted sustainably, have been the preferred solution for edible oils for over a century by optimising total operating costs. To meet regional market demand for sunflower oil refining in Turkey, Clariant commissioned a modern laboratory equipped with state-of-the-art technology in Balıkesir in 2017, in addition to its TONSIL production facility. The company continued its support to the sector by providing silver sponsorship to the YABİTED Vegetable Oil Congress, held biennially in Turkey this year. The congress, held in Istanbul and addressing industry representatives, academics and government officials, aims in its fourth edition to create a platform for discussion of scientific, technological, commercial and legal developments in Turkey's vegetable oil production.