The novel use of calcium sulphate dihydrate as a bleaching agent for pre-processing beef tallow in the soap manufacturing process

In this article we investigate the use of CaSO4.2H2O as an effective bleaching agent for pre-processing of beef tallow destined for use in the soap manufacturing process before storage. The use of CaSO4.2H2O in this particular novel application has never been demonstrated before. Five respective 100 g beef tallow samples were bleached by agitation using a speed of 120 rpm for 30 minutes at different CaSO4.2H2O weight fractions. The different weight fractions used were 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 wt. %. After bleaching at a constant melt temperature of 90°C, the respective slurries were filtered and analyzed for red and yellow colors respectively as well as for % ffa. The results indicated an increase in red color bleachability from 0 to 68.75 wt. % with an increase in wt. % CaSO4.2H2O from 1 to 10wt%. Yellow color bleachability also increased from 23.65 to 93 % with increase in wt. % of CaSO4.2H2O from 1 to 10 wt. %. The results demonstrate that CaSO4.2H2O is an effective beef tallow bleaching agent for adsorbing red color, brown color and yellow chlorophyll type contaminants that are present in beef tallow.