The performance of activated earth and/or chitosan as an adsorbent to remove free fatty acids (FFA) and peroxides from the unpurified salmon oil was evaluated. The unpurified salmon oil was purified using three methods included activated earth adsorption process, neutralization process, and combined neutralization and activated earth adsorption processes. The purified salmon oil samples were evaluated for free fatty acids (FFA), peroxide values (PV), minerals, color, tocopherols, moisture content, insoluble impurities, and water activity. Neither chitosan nor the activated earth adsorption process was effective in removing FFA from the salmon oil. Neutralized oil had a higher intraparticular diffusion coefficient than the unpurified salmon oil for adsorbing peroxides. FFA of unpurified salmon oil was 3.5% and was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) to 0.12% by neutralization. No significant reduction of tocopherols content of the oil was observed in any of the three purification processes. After the adsorption processes, PV of neutralized oil had decreased from 4.75 to 2.90 mmol/kg. All three purification processes increased the lightness (L*) and decreased the redness (a*) and reduced mineral, insoluble impurities, moisture content, and water activity of the salmon oil. This study demonstrated that the combined process was more effective in reducing FFA, peroxides, and moisture content than either the activated earth adsorption or neutralization purification process alone. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.