Abstract

APPLICATION OF IRAQI RICH-MONTMORILLONITE MINERAL CLAYS DOPED WITH CHROMIUM (III) OXIDE AS CATALYST TO EXTRACT IRAQI VIRGIN OLIVE OIL COMPONENTS BY SOXHLATE TECHNIQUE

Regab A. Buker*, Saleh A. Ahmad and Zena M. Shaban

ABSTRACT

Natural Iraqi montmorillonite mineral clay samples, treated chemically and physically, have been doped with Chromium (III) oxide to obtain a catalyst. The chemical composition and structural properties of the clay samples were characterized. They have been applied in extraction of Iraqi virgin olive oil by soxhlate. Four types of solvents were used in the extraction process. Infrared spectroscopy (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR) and gas chromatography technique built-in to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were established, in order to identify the components of the extracted olive oil. From results thus obtained, both the natural and the treated clay have a good efficiency to separate olive oil to their major components which are triglycerides, phenolic and volatile compounds such as aldehydes.

Keywords: Mineral clays, Virgin olive oil, Soxhlate.