PURIFICATION OF SHEABUTTER USING ANIMAL BONE ACTIVATED CARBON

Abstract

Animal bones were carbonized and chemically activated using orthophosphoric acid according to standard procedures. The activated charcoal was employed in the purification of sheabutter. Physicochemical properties and individual fatty acid profiles were monitored hourly. Melting point, odour and colour were determined for crude and purified samples. The result showed that unsaponifiable and saponification values increased from 5.2 to 7.2 % and 167.0 to 194.0 respectively in sheabutter. The data showed that adsorption tends to equilibrium within 3 - 4 h. Melting point reduced from 29 to 24.5 °C. Odour and colour improved after 4 h. The Freundlich isotherm model showed that animal bone activated carbon is quite suitable for the purification of sheabutter. Key words: Animal bone, carbonized, Sheabutter, crude, purification.