Evaluation of the effect of a novel membrane filtration system on the lifespan of frying oil

Frying oil has a limited lifetime which results in the disposal of approximately 67% of all used oil. The aim of this study is to determine the suitability of different membranes for purifying frying oil and investigate the application of continuous membrane filtration in a commercial deep fryer. Eleven different membranes were tested to assess their suitability for filtrating frying oil. A prototype continuous filtration system with an integrated membrane filter was developed for a deep fryer to assess the effect of continuous membrane filtration on oil degradation. The prototype was subjected to a frying test over 13 days and the results compared to those from a standard deep fryer. The prototype maintained total polar compounds (TPC) at an acceptable level of <12% and the oil remained light in colour even after more than 280 h of use, while TPC in the standard deep fryer rose to >27%.

Automated summary

This study tested the suitability of different membranes for purifying frying oil and developed a prototype continuous filtration system with an integrated membrane filter for a commercial deep fryer. The results showed that the continuous membrane filtration system effectively decreased the total polar compounds and maintained the color of the oil, demonstrating its practical value in oil purification.