Oil-Dri Research & Development – Fluids Purification
Smart filtration starts with the right clay
When it comes to edible oil refining, performance isn’t just about hitting spec, it’s about building a robust, reliable and reproducible process. Every step counts – especially filtration. After bleaching, refineries must filter out the bleaching clay with the captured impurities before the oil can be deodorized.
Often, the focus is on the bleaching clay’s adsorptive power. But a poor filtering bleaching earth will slow down production rate. That’s where clay selection becomes a strategic lever.
Choose clay that works with your filters – not against them
Most bleaching clays are acid-activated montmorillonite (Figure 1), a flake-like mineral which stacks tightly in a filter.
Oil-Dri products offer a mineral blend with a natural advantage. By capitalizing on the naturally occurring combination of montmorillonite and attapulgite (Figure 2), our product delivers selective adsorption and improved filtration. Montmorillonite flakes provide strong impurity removal, while the tubular structure of attapulgite allows oil to flow more easily.
Control the inputs. Predict the outputs.
Filtration responds to every change in your process. Dial in your inputs and you can drive measurable results:
The payoff.
When used to a refiner’s advantage, the morphology of bleaching clay can improve flow rates, reduce pressure drop, and minimize oil retention.
Your clay product shouldn’t just remove impurities, it should support flow, protect up time, and reduce waste. Oil-Dri partners with refining teams worldwide to validate performance, run plant trials, and improve process robustness and reliability from the lab to the line.