摘要:
A process and composition for removing trace contaminants from glyceride oils utilizes a metal-substituted silica xerogel having a pH of at least 7.5 to adsorb at least a portion of the contaminants. The process of the invention includes contacting a glyceride oil with such an adsorbent and then separating the adsorbent from the contaminant-depleted glyceride oil, for example, by filtration. The composition of the present invention includes a metal-substituted silica xerogel having a pH of at least 7.5 and an organic acid blended with the xerogel. Preferably, the organic acid is citric acid. Contaminants which can be removed from glyceride oils during the refinement of such oils by the adsorbent include phospholipids, soaps, detrimental metals, and chlorophyll.