GB352935A - Improvements in the esterification of fatty acids and mixtures containing fatty acids - Google Patents

Abstract

In the esterification of long-chain fatty acids or mixtures thereof with dihydric or polyhydric aliphatic alcohols, the acids are treated with a quantity of alcohol exceeding that required for complete esterification, then a quantity of fatty acids exceeding that required for esterification of the alcohol remaining is added, and finally the remainder of fatty acid is removed by a method which is not injurious to the esters obtained, e.g. by extraction with ethyl alcohol, by distillation with steam or other vaporized inert liquid, preferably in vacuo, as described, for example, in Specifications 213,267 and 235,792, [both in Class 32, Distilling &c.], or by washing with dilute aqueous alkali. This process is very useful in the treatment of acids containing a considerable proportion of "abnormal" acids, such as hydroxy carboxylic acids and acids of very high molecular weight, such as are formed by fermentation and decomposition of such initial materials as seeds and residues from the pressing of olives, for fractionation into "abnormal" acids and esters of "normal" fatty acids is avoided, and the alcohol used is completely esterified. The treatment of the fatty acids of train oil, sulphur olive oil, and sanza olive oil is referred to, and examples are given of the production of esters of sanza olive oil acids with glycerol and of sulphur olive oil acids with ethylene glycol.