Local Cuban bentonite clay as potential low-cost adsorbent for shark liver oil pool purification

Context: The shark liver of the species Ginglimostoma cirratun, Carcharhinus longimanus, and Carcharhinus falciformis, captured in the north-central coast of Cuba are a source of oil, that when extracted it must be purified due to its bad smell, taste and the amount of impurities it has. Aims: To evaluate the purification of the shark liver oil (SLO) pool of species Ginglimostoma cirratun, Carcharhinus longimanus, and Carcharhinus falciformis, by Cuban bentonite clay. Methods: The effects of bentonite dose, contact time and speed rate were studied using the 23 factorial designs. The parameters are evaluated in the experiment design: acidity value, p-anisidine value, peroxide value, Totox value and Bleaching performance. Response Surface Methodology modeling techniques were applied to model the process and their performance and predictive capabilities of the response (purification efficiency) was also examined. Results: The experiments showed that the oil is suitable for consumption after the purification process. The best treatment, which could reduce the impurities in the SLO pool, was a treatment with bentonite dose at 80 g/L, time at 15 min, and speed rate at 250 rpm. Cuban bentonite clay is a promising adsorbent candidate for the removal of impurities of the SLO. Conclusions: The local Cuban bentonite clay can be used as potential low-cost adsorbent for shark liver oil pool purification, as showed the experiments.