Research on the Application of Diatomaceous Earth Filter Aids in Edible Oil Refining Processes

I. Characteristics of Diatomaceous Earth Filter Aids and Edible Oil Filtration Requirements

Diatomaceous earth (DE) filter aids, a natural inorganic filtration medium, play an indispensable role in edible oil refining. Processed from fossilized diatoms through crushing, grading, and calcination, DE exhibits unique physicochemical properties: porous structure (80–93% porosity), large specific surface area (15–40 m²/g), chemical inertness, and excellent thermal stability. In the edible oil industry, DE is primarily used for degumming crude oil, post-bleaching filtration, and final oil polishing, effectively removing impurities such as phospholipids, soapstock, and clay particles to enhance oil clarity and oxidative stability.

Compared to traditional materials, DE offers distinct advantages:

Filtration precision of 0.1–1 μm, capturing >99% of suspended particles.

Low filter cake resistance, increasing flow rates by 3–5× versus conventional cloth filters.

Minimal adsorption (<2%) of nutrients (e.g., vitamin E, phytosterols), outperforming activated clay (8–15%).

Approved as safe by the FDA and EFSA, food-grade DE is widely adopted in a dual-mode operation (pre-coat + body feed) combining mechanical sieving, depth filtration, and surface adsorption for efficient oil purification.

II. Applications in Oil Bleaching Processes

DE is a standard complement to activated clay in oil bleaching. Post-bleaching, the oil-clay mixture requires efficient separation, where DE excels:

Pre-coat: 5–10 mm layer (0.8–1.5 kg/m²) on plate/tank filters.

Body feed: Continuous DE dosing at 30–50% of clay weight.

Optimized DE gradation (coarse/medium/fine = 2:5:3) maintains flow rates at 15–25 L/m²·min, reducing residual clay to <50 mg/kg. Specialty calcined DE (800–1100°C) selectively traps clay particles while allowing pigments to pass, preventing nutrient loss. Data show:

Oil yield increases by 1.2–1.8%.

Clay usage decreases by 15–20%.

For palm and soybean oils, DE demonstrates exceptional thermal stability (100–120°C), extending oil oxidation induction periods by 20–30%.

III. Key Technologies in Final Oil Polishing

Final polishing determines product appearance. High-precision DE (0.1–0.5 Darcy) reduces turbidity to <0.5 NTU, meeting premium oil standards. Modern refineries employ multi-stage DE filtration:

Primary: Medium-grade DE (1.0–2.0 Darcy) for coarse particles.

Secondary: Fine DE (0.3–1.0 Darcy).

Polishing: Ultra-fine DE (0.1–0.3 Darcy) ensuring 72+ hours clarity at 25°C.

For specialty oils (e.g., olive, walnut), low-adsorption DE (acid-washed, heavy metals <5 mg/kg) preserves >95% flavor compounds while removing haze.

IV. Expanded Use in Biodiesel Filtration

DE’s organic solvent and alkali resistance (pH 8–10) make it ideal for biodiesel:

Crude filtration: Removes >90% catalyst particles (1–10 μm).

Final polishing: Reduces ash content to <0.02% (ASTM D6751).

High-temperature calcined DE (>900°C, ignition loss <1%) achieves flows of 30–40 L/m²·min (2–3× traditional methods). Notably, DE adsorbs 15–25% free glycerol, easing downstream washing. Filter cakes reach >95% dryness, minimizing waste.

V. Process Optimization & Sustainability

Efficiency strategies:

Composite pre-coats: DE + 5–10% cellulose improves cake release by 30–40%.

Dynamic dosing: 0.1–0.3% of oil weight, adjusted via real-time turbidity monitoring.

Temperature control: Optimal at 70–90°C (oil viscosity: 20–40 cP).

Sustainability initiatives:

Regeneration: Thermal (600–800°C) or chemical (70–80% performance recovery).

Upcycling: Spent DE as construction additives or soil conditioners, boosting utilization by 40–50% and cutting waste by 30%.

Quality standards:

pH 6.5–8.5; moisture ≤0.5%; acid solubles ≤3.0%.

Heavy metals per GB 2762; microbial counts <1000 CFU/g; mineral oil <50 mg/kg.

VI. Innovations & Future Trends

Functional DE: Surface-modified (e.g., silanized) or composite DE (with zeolites/alumina) selectively removes multiple impurities (phospholipids, FFAs, pigments), reducing auxiliary material use by 20–30%.

Smart systems: IoT-enabled pressure/flow sensors enable predictive maintenance, optimizing DE replacement timing to improve efficiency by 15–20% and cut energy use by 10–15%.

Next-gen DE: Nano-engineered pores and green production methods will further enhance precision and sustainability, solidifying DE’s role as a core technology for global oil refining.