Ashapura Volclay expands bleach clay capacity to refine edible oils

Mumbai, May 08 (UNI) Ashapura Volcaly a joint venture between Ashapura Minechem Ltd and the AMCOL Internatinal, the world's largest bentonite producer has doubled the bleach clay and bleach catalyst capacity at its Bhuj-based plant from 35000 MT to 65000 MT per annum to meet the growing demand of edible oil refining in India and abroad.

Ashapura Volclay is also coming up with a new plant in Eastern Europe for processing of 13000 MT of bentonite to cater to the European market. Currently the global market for bleach clay stands at 800,000 MT and Ashapura hopes to acquire 20 per cent of the global market by the year 2008, the company told the media persons on the occassion of launch of the new plant on May 6.

Talking to UNI about the need for bleach clay in refining edible oil, company chief executive officer Tanuj Roy said, ''Very few are aware of the presence of carcinogenic products even in the refined oils, which can be contaminated at the time of refining itself. The presence of Dioxin - a group of 75 chemical species and the most powerful poison of the group of 2,3,7,8-TCCD or simply put dioxin - is 6000 times more poisonous than cyanide and can be present in the refined oils.'' The crude oil is coloured and de-coloured using bleaching earth. If the bleaching earth itself contains dioxin then it simply moves to refined oil even though it looks very clear. Additional contamnination from heavy metals like mercury, arsenic, lead can also happen from the unhealthy processing of bleaching earth or sub-standard processing or poor qulaity of starting earth. Hence standardised processing and refining is the need of the hour and Ashapura Volclay with its associates is determined to provide it to its customers, he added.

Dioxin in refined oils can be measured using a special series GC-MS measurement, at certified laboratories accredited by Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), USA/WHO at more than US Dollar 2500 for single measurement.

Ashapura Minechem Ltd is also invloved in the production of Geo-Synthetic Clay Lining (GSCL) which helps municipal administration and other administrative departments to lay GSCL to protect the dumping grounds from the seepage of contaminated constituents affecting ground water. GSCL can be used at the dumping grounds and at all the big industries which release environment affecting effluents. Currently India has huge potential for this product, Mr Roy added.

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