Recycling and Valorization of Spent Bleaching Earth in Oil Processing
Summary
Spent bleaching earth (SBE) is generated in large volumes during the decolourisation and refining of vegetable and mineral oils. Rich in residual oil, clay minerals and adsorbed impurities, SBE poses both disposal challenges and resource opportunities. Recycling and valorisation strategies aim to recover entrained oil, regenerate clay adsorbents and convert residual carbonaceous matter into value‐added products. Key approaches include solvent or thermal extraction of oil for reuse or biodiesel feedstock, acid or thermal activation to restore adsorptive performance, and in situ catalytic processes for esterification and transesterification. Emerging studies also explore the use of activated SBE as a heterogeneous catalyst or support in petrochemical treatments, and as a precursor for carbon–clay composites in environmental remediation. Integration of these techniques can transform waste streams into revenue sources, improve refinery economics and reduce environmental impact, particularly in palm oil, cooking oil and lubricants industries worldwide.
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Recycling and Valorization of Spent Bleaching Earth in Oil Processing publication trend
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Technical terms
Spent bleaching earth (SBE): Clay waste from oil bleaching, containing residual oil and adsorbed impurities.
Transesterification: Chemical reaction converting triglycerides into methyl esters (biodiesel) using an alcohol and a catalyst.
Techno-economic analysis: Integrated assessment of technical performance and economic feasibility of a process.
Acid activation: Treatment of clay minerals with strong acids to enhance surface area and acidity for improved adsorption or catalysis.
References
- Optimized utilization of spent bleaching earth to enhance economic performance of integrated biodiesel-cooking oil plants. Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering (2024).
- Process design of in situ esterification-transesterifica tion for biodiesel production from residual oil of spent bleaching earth (SBE). IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science (2017).
- Spent Bleaching Earth Recovery of Used Motor-Oil Refinery. Civil Engineering Journal (2018).
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