GB796808A - Improvements in or relating to interesterification processes - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0796808/III/1> <PICT:0796808/III/2> In the interesterification of esters of aliphatic carboxylic acids and polyhydric alcohols, particularly of glycerides, use is made of a solid catalyst obtained by spray drying, preferably immediately before use, an alcoholic solution of an alkali-metal or alkaline-earth metal alcoholate. The catalyst, for example sodium methylate, is preferably obtained in powder form with a particle size of 10-50 m by drying an alcoholic solution by means of a spray disc under vacuum. As shown, a reaction vessel 2 is provided with a heating mantle 10 and an inlet pipe 1 ending in a delivery nozzle 1a projecting into the vessel and feeding reactants on to a spray disc 3 which is fluted and has a serrated edge. The spray disc is rotated by a shaft 5 which also carries a stirrer 6. A glyceride oil mixture is fed into the vessel 2 under vacuum with the spray disc rotating and is thereby dried and converted into a fine spray. When the oil reaches level 7 the supply is cut off by a valve in line 1, and a valve in line 1b is opened to allow sufficient catalyst solution, generally 0.2 per cent catalyst by weight of oil as a 20 per cent solution, to pass from reservoir 8 to the vessel 2, the catalyst solution being converted to a fine powder by means of the vacuum and the rotating spray disc, and the powder being continually washed down from the sides of the vessel by the agitated oil.