GB666785A - Process and apparatus for the hydrolytic decomposition of fatty oils and fats - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0666785/III/1> Fats and fatty oils are hydrolyzed to yield fatty acids and glycerine by treatment in the liquid phase with water at a temperature between 240 and 295 DEG C. and at a pressure between 110 and 180 Kg. per sq. cm. in the absence of a hydrolysis catalyst. Hydrolysis may be substantially complete in 10-15 minutes and the glycerine solution obtained may have a strength in excess of 30 per cent. The hydrolysis may be effected during passage of the compressed mixture of water and oil (e.g. neutral or acid palm oil or neutral colza oil) through a heated tube which is preferably horizontal. The mixture of reaction products issuing from the tube is cooled and the pressure released. Thereupon the mixture is separated into its components by settling or centrifuging. In the Figure, two hydrolysis tubes 5 and 6 are employed, reaction products from tube 5 are fed to settling column 9 and reaction products from tube 6 are fed to settling column 10. Fatty material to be hydrolyzed is drawn from storage tank 1 and fed, together with glycerine water drawn from the lower part of column 10, into tube 5. Water is drawn from storage tank 3 and fed, together with partially hydrolyzed fatty material drawn from the upper part of column 9, into tube 6. Fatty acids drawn from the upper part of column 10 and glycerine water drawn from the lower part of column 9 are stored in tanks 2 and 4 respectively. If it is desired to obtain a lower degree of hydrolysis or if highly acid oils are used as starting materials, it is only necessary to effect the hydrolysis in a single stage and in this case only the tube 5 and the column 9 are used. Whether one or two stages are employed, hydrolysis is carried out in a continuous manner.