GB273276A - Improved manufacture of esters of fatty acids and of mixtures containing fatty acids - Google Patents

Abstract

273,276. Wecker, E. June 23, 1926, [Convention date]. Fatty oils, purifying.-Fatty acids or mixtures containing fatty acids and fatty oils, are esterified by means of a deficiency of glycerin or other alcohol, so that all the alcohol is consumed, leaving an excess of fatty acid. The excess of fatty acid is removed from the neutral oil by means of the process of Specification 213,267, the reaction product being preferably caused to flow in a thin layer; for instance it may be heated to near the boiling point of the fatty acid, and treated with finely divided liquids such as water, toluene or alcohol at low pressure such as below 150 mm., or preferably 10-40 mm. together with superheated vapours or neutral gases. Examples describe the esterification with glycerin of a mixture of 93 per cent fatty acid and 7 per cent oil from peanuts, and of 95 per cent fatty acid of sesame oil with 5 per cent oil, the removal of the excess of fatty acid from the reaction product being effected in each case by superheated steam carrying water-mist. The process may be used in conjunction with the purification of fatty oils containing free fatty acid, the oils being first treated by a physical process such as the process described above for treating the reaction product, so as to obtain a neutral oil and a free fatty acid containing little or no fatty oil, and then treating the fatty acid product by the esterification process. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 (3) (a) includes the separation of the excess of fatty acid by a physical separation process such as treatment with a " temporarily expanding liquid mist " or by superheated vapours or gases, hydrogen being mentioned as a suitable neutral gas. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.