Effect of Commercial Refining Processes on the Removal of Insecticides from Edible Oils

Removal of residues of lindane, p,p’-DDT, malathion and monocrotophos from mustard oil was studied during the refining processes. Alkali treatment removed 33.7–47% malathion, 47.3–55.5% monocrotophos, 4.0–4.6% lindane and 8.9–10% DDT from the treated mustard oil. Among the adsorbents, Fullers earth with activated charcoal was the best, which removed 7.7–10.1% lindane, 1.1–1.2% DDT, 14.6–19.9% malathion and 12.5–15.9% monocrotophos. Steam distillation was the most effective process which removed 100% of lindane, malathion and monocrotophos and 58.1–67.2% DDT from the treated oil.