GB2125812A - Purifying fats - Google Patents

Abstract

A series of columns containing adsorption agents such as silica for refining fatty materials e.g. sal fat in solution by adsorbing impurities is regenerated by removing the first column in the series in turn and positioning it as the final column of the series after regenerating the adsorption agent from said first column.

Description

SPECIFICATION Treatment of fats This invention relates to the treatment of fats, in particular confectionery fats, for example sal fat, to remove adsorbable impurities.

In the general process of treatment of fats with adsorbents the fats are contacted with the adsorbent mass on a continuous or batch procedure.

The invention describes a process of repetitively treating fat materials, for example sal fat, containing adsorbable impurities in a set of adsorption columns comprising the steps of: 1. Passing a solution of the fat in a solvent through the set of columns in sequence, and 2. Washing and reactivating the first column in the sequence and positioning the column as the final column in the set for the passage of another fat solution.

The attached diagrammatic drawing shows an arrangement of adsorption columns.

The drawing shows the adsorption column arrangements in the first and second cycles of sal fat treatment. A set of columns 1 comprises three adsorption columns 3,4 and 5 of glass and 4 cm diameter. The set could comprise a greater number of columns. Each column was packed with 150 g of silica alumina gel as adsorbent having a particle size of -100 to +200 mesh (BSS) with a bulk volume of 600 ml. The adsorbent was packed to a height of 50 cm in each column.

A miscella (1350 ml) of bleached and degummed sal fat in hexane (20% wt/vol) was passed through columns 3,4 and 5 in sequence as indicated by the flow arrows on cycle 1 at a superficial velocity of 1 cm/min. After passage through column 5 the miscella was desolventised to recover the upgraded sal fat.

Column 3 was removed from the set and washed with hexane (900 ml) at a flow rate of 2 cm/min to displace the phvsically held sal miscella. The rinse solution (900 ml) containing nearly 90 g of sal fat was mixed with additional 180 g of sal fat and hexane to make up 1350 ml of miscella for the subsequent cycle.

Column 3 was then prepared for re-use by washing it with 1200 ml of an azeotrope of hexane/ IPA (78:22 wt/vol) at a flow rate of 2 cm/min. This step removed the adsorbed impurities from the column. The column was then washed in hexane (600 ml), the adsorbent was removed and dried at a temperature in the range 1 200C to 500"C for 1 to 2 hours, cooled in a dessicator and repacked to form column 31. This method of regeneration can be replaced by other methods.

Column 31 was then utilised in the set of columns in a second cycle but as the last column in the sequence. This set was used to treat the mixture of hexane rinse (600 ml) and new miscella (1000 ml) formed as described previously.

After treatment of this sal fat miscella column 4 was washed and reactivated for use as the last column in the set. The adsorbent was usable for 15 cycles.

1. Process for repetitively treating fatty materials containing adsorbable impurities in a set of adsorption columns comprising the steps of: 1. Passing a solution of the fat through the set of columns in sequence, and 2. Washing and reactivating the first column in the sequence and positioning the column as the final column in the set for the passage of more fat solution.

2. Process according to Claim 1 in which the fatty material comprises a solution of a vegetable butter in an organic solvent.

3. Process according to Claim 2 wherein the fatty material comprises a miscella of sal fat in hexane.

4. Process of repetitively treating fatty materials as claimed in Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Treatment of fats This invention relates to the treatment of fats, in particular confectionery fats, for example sal fat, to remove adsorbable impurities. In the general process of treatment of fats with adsorbents the fats are contacted with the adsorbent mass on a continuous or batch procedure. The invention describes a process of repetitively treating fat materials, for example sal fat, containing adsorbable impurities in a set of adsorption columns comprising the steps of: 1. Passing a solution of the fat in a solvent through the set of columns in sequence, and 2. Washing and reactivating the first column in the sequence and positioning the column as the final column in the set for the passage of another fat solution. The attached diagrammatic drawing shows an arrangement of adsorption columns. The drawing shows the adsorption column arrangements in the first and second cycles of sal fat treatment. A set of columns 1 comprises three adsorption columns 3,4 and 5 of glass and 4 cm diameter. The set could comprise a greater number of columns. Each column was packed with 150 g of silica alumina gel as adsorbent having a particle size of -100 to +200 mesh (BSS) with a bulk volume of 600 ml. The adsorbent was packed to a height of 50 cm in each column. A miscella (1350 ml) of bleached and degummed sal fat in hexane (20% wt/vol) was passed through columns 3,4 and 5 in sequence as indicated by the flow arrows on cycle 1 at a superficial velocity of 1 cm/min. After passage through column 5 the miscella was desolventised to recover the upgraded sal fat. Column 3 was removed from the set and washed with hexane (900 ml) at a flow rate of 2 cm/min to displace the phvsically held sal miscella. The rinse solution (900 ml) containing nearly 90 g of sal fat was mixed with additional 180 g of sal fat and hexane to make up 1350 ml of miscella for the subsequent cycle. Column 3 was then prepared for re-use by washing it with 1200 ml of an azeotrope of hexane/ IPA (78:22 wt/vol) at a flow rate of 2 cm/min. This step removed the adsorbed impurities from the column. The column was then washed in hexane (600 ml), the adsorbent was removed and dried at a temperature in the range 1 200C to 500"C for 1 to 2 hours, cooled in a dessicator and repacked to form column 31. This method of regeneration can be replaced by other methods. Column 31 was then utilised in the set of columns in a second cycle but as the last column in the sequence. This set was used to treat the mixture of hexane rinse (600 ml) and new miscella (1000 ml) formed as described previously. After treatment of this sal fat miscella column 4 was washed and reactivated for use as the last column in the set. The adsorbent was usable for 15 cycles. CLAIMS 1. Process for repetitively treating fatty materials containing adsorbable impurities in a set of adsorption columns comprising the steps of:

1. Passing a solution of the fat through the set of columns in sequence, and

2. Washing and reactivating the first column in the sequence and positioning the column as the final column in the set for the passage of more fat solution.

2. Process according to Claim 1 in which the fatty material comprises a solution of a vegetable butter in an organic solvent.

3. Process according to Claim 2 wherein the fatty material comprises a miscella of sal fat in hexane.

4. Process of repetitively treating fatty materials as claimed in Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.