Reduction of benzo(a)pyrene content in sesame oil by using adsorbents

This study was conducted to reduce benzo(a)pyrene in sesame oil by addition of several kinds of absorbents (active carbon, diatomaceous earth, kaolin, acid clay, perlite, and silicate). Sesame oil containing 4.1 ppb benzo(a)pyrene was stirred with 0.2% (w/w) several kinds of adsorbents at 40°C for 30 min. Active carbon resulted in the highest reduction of benzo(a)pyrene in sesame oil among the investigated adsorbents, and decolorization was observed only by using silicate. Reduction of benzo(a)pyrene was optimized by controlling amount the of active carbon, stirring time, and stirring temperature. Futher, 4.1 ppb benzo(a)pyrene in sesame oil was reduced by up to 0.91 ppb by adding 0.5% (w/w) active carbon and stirring for 30 min at 70°C. Optimized conditions were applied to sesame oil (2.14~4.11 ppb) purchased from a Gyeonggi traditional market, and benzo(a)pyrene in sesame oil was reduced by up 0.43~0.86 ppb.