Cholesterol removal by selected metal–organic frameworks as adsorbents

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the cholesterol removal capacity of seven metal–organic frameworks (MOF) and to compare with active carbon as adsorbents, and with aqueous β-cyclodextrine complexation removal technique. There were slight color differences in the oil samples after the treatments. The lowest free fatty acidities (0.13% and 0.13% linoleic acid) and peroxide values (21.07 and 23.50 meqO2/kg) were measured in aluminum-MOF (Al-MOF) and titanium-MOF (Ti-MOF) treated samples when compared to control sample (0.15%, and 27.62 meqO2/kg). Cholesterol reduction ratios of the Al-MOF treated sample (27.45%) and Ti-MOF treated sample (26.27%) were higher among all adsorbent treatments, but lower than that of the β-cyclodextrine aqueous complexation technique (33.07%). Further experiments with Al-MOF and Ti-MOF showed that when adsorbent addition level increased to 3.0%, removed cholesterol content increased. Likewise, when treatment times extended to 180 min, more cholesterol was removed. But, the removed cholesterol contents at 100 °C and 30 °C treatment temperatures were lower than that of at 50 °C treatment temperature. Further experiments with butter and sheep tail tallow showed that Al-MOF was quite effective as an adsorbent to remove cholesterol. This study proves the great potential of MOF to remove cholesterol selectively from oil/fat by adsorption principle.