Silica adsorbent treatment for removal of chlorophyll derivatives from triacylglycerol-based oils

A process for treating an oil comprising a chlorophyll derivative, the process comprising contacting the oil with an adsorbent comprising a silica treated with an alkaline earth metal oxide, wherein the adsorbent has a pH of about 7 or greater, and comprises about 0.1 wt % or greater of MgO, on a dry basis, and has a water content of from about 30 to about 75 wt. %.

A process for treating an oil comprising pyropheophytin comprising:

• contacting the oil with a polypeptide having pyropheophytinase activity, or a composition comprising the polypeptide, wherein pyropheophytin is converted into pyropheophorbide, and optionally wherein pheophytin is converted into pheophorbide to produce a pyropheophytinase-treated oil, and
• contacting the pyropheophytinase-treated oil with an adsorbent comprising a silica treated with an alkaline earth metal oxide;
• wherein the adsorbent has a pH of about 7 or greater, and comprises about 0.1 wt % or greater of MgO on a dry basis, and has a water content of from about 30 to about 75 wt. %.