Apparent Reaction Kinetics of Crude Palm Oil Dechlorination Using Sodium Silicate Solution

Zulfa Kurnia Umani Hari; Nur Shafikah Rasad; Mohd Sabri Mahmud

doi:10.9767/bcrec.20687

DOI: https://doi.org/10.9767/bcrec.20687

Apparent Reaction Kinetics of Crude Palm Oil Dechlorination Using Sodium Silicate Solution

Zulfa Kurnia Umani Hari

, Nur Shafikah Rasad, Mohd Sabri Mahmud

Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Lebuh Persiaran Tun Khalil Yaakob, Gambang, 26300 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

Received: 18 Mar 2026; Revised: 25 Apr 2026; Accepted: 26 Apr 2026; Available online: 30 Apr 2026; Published: 30 Oct 2026.

Editor(s): Istadi Istadi

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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BibTex Citation Data :

@article{BCREC20687,
    author = {Zulfa Kurnia Umani Hari and Nur Shafikah Rasad and Mohd Sabri Mahmud},
    title = {Apparent Reaction Kinetics of Crude Palm Oil Dechlorination Using Sodium Silicate Solution},
    journal = {Bulletin of Chemical Reaction Engineering & Catalysis},
  volume = {0},
    number = {0},
    year = {2026},
    keywords = {crude palm oil dechlorination; dechlorination kinetics; 3-MCPD precursors; biphasic reaction; sodium silicate; chemical scavenger},
    abstract = { This paper reports a study of the apparent reaction kinetics of crude palm oil (CPO) dechlorination using a sodium silicate (SS) solution, providing a water-efficient alternative to conventional washing to mitigate the 3-MCPD precursor. Three CPO-to-SS volume ratios (0.25, 2.33, and 3.00) were tested across temperatures of 60°C, 70°C, and 80°C. The results showed the 2.33 ratio as most effective, achieving 1000 times of extraction, as indicated by the McCabe-Thiele equilibrium plot. Kinetic analysis revealed a transition from pseudo-first-order regimes at lower temperatures to exceptionally high apparent reaction orders (up to 24.90) at 80°C. These high orders indicate a mass-transfer limited process where declining SS concentration might have destabilized the emulsion, making the reaction rate sensitive to interfacial surface area. The FTIR spectra confirmed that SS acted as both a buffering agent and a dispersant, reducing moisture retention without clear free fatty acid neutralization. The elevated temperatures significantly enhanced dechlorination rates, with the 0.25 ratio facilitating chloride breakdown with the highest rate constant. The results revealed that the kinetic rate is  with the rate constant, k (range 3.6 x 10 -3  until 1x10  -111 ) and the apparent order,  (range up to 24.9) at 80ºC. These findings conclude that SS can effectively reduce chlorine content in CPO, and that process is strongly governed by the phase volume ratio and operating temperature. },
   issn = {1978-2993},   pages = {3--11}  doi = {10.9767/bcrec.20687},
    url = {https://journal.bcrec.id/index.php/bcrec/article/view/20687}
}

Citation Format:

Abstract

This paper reports a study of the apparent reaction kinetics of crude palm oil (CPO) dechlorination using a sodium silicate (SS) solution, providing a water-efficient alternative to conventional washing to mitigate the 3-MCPD precursor. Three CPO-to-SS volume ratios (0.25, 2.33, and 3.00) were tested across temperatures of 60°C, 70°C, and 80°C. The results showed the 2.33 ratio as most effective, achieving 1000 times of extraction, as indicated by the McCabe-Thiele equilibrium plot. Kinetic analysis revealed a transition from pseudo-first-order regimes at lower temperatures to exceptionally high apparent reaction orders (up to 24.90) at 80°C. These high orders indicate a mass-transfer limited process where declining SS concentration might have destabilized the emulsion, making the reaction rate sensitive to interfacial surface area. The FTIR spectra confirmed that SS acted as both a buffering agent and a dispersant, reducing moisture retention without clear free fatty acid neutralization. The elevated temperatures significantly enhanced dechlorination rates, with the 0.25 ratio facilitating chloride breakdown with the highest rate constant. The results revealed that the kinetic rate is with the rate constant, k (range 3.6 x 10^-3 until 1x10 ^-111) and the apparent order, (range up to 24.9) at 80ºC. These findings conclude that SS can effectively reduce chlorine content in CPO, and that process is strongly governed by the phase volume ratio and operating temperature.

Keywords: crude palm oil dechlorination; dechlorination kinetics; 3-MCPD precursors; biphasic reaction; sodium silicate; chemical scavenger

Funding: Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia under contract FRGS/1/2022/TK05/UMP/02/23

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Section: 3rd International Symposium of Reaction Engineering, Catalysis and Sustainable Energy 2025 (RECASE 2025)

Language : EN

In 2026: Just Accepted Manuscript and Article In Press 2026

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