GB820270A - Method of treating coconut type oils and the product thereby obtained - Google Patents

Abstract

A process of modifying glyceride oils of the coconut oil group including babassu, tucum, cohune and palm kernel oils) comprises interesterifying the oil at an elevated temperature, generally 55-60 DEG C., with a triglyceride of one or more lower fatty acids having 6-12 carbon atoms in the acid molecule, the amount of lower triglyceride being usually 5-100% by weight of the coconut-type oil. The reaction is suitably performed in the presence of a catalyst, for example a suspension of sodium methoxide in xylene, and in an inert atmosphere such as one of nitrogen, after which the mixture may be neutralized with acid, washed, dried, bleached or decolorized with activated charcoal, and finally steam deodorized. If desired, the product so obtained may then be winterized. The lower triglycerides used are preferably the mixed triglycerides of capric and caprylic acids in which the acids are present within the ratio range 15:85 to 35:65. Minor amounts of caproic and lauric acids may also be present in these mixed triglycerides (up to 4% of the total), the individual permitted amounts being 1-1.5% and 1-2.5% respectively. In a modification of the process, the oil to be treated is reacted directly with a mixture of the free lower fatty acids and glycerol, the glycerol being present in the amount required to produce a neutral oil. Specification 820,269 is referred to.ALSO:A process of modifying glyceride oils of the coconut oil group (including babassu, tucum, cohune and palm kernel oils) comprises interesterifying the oil at an elevated temperature, generally 55-60 DEG C., with a triglyceride of one or more lower fatty acids having 6-12 carbon atoms in the acid molecule, the amount of lower triglyceride being usually 5-100% by weight of the coconut-type oil. The reaction is suitably performed in the presence of a catalyst, for example a suspension of sodium methoxide in xylene, and in an inert atmosphere, such as one of nitrogen, after which the mixture may be neutralized with acid, washed, dried, bleached or deodorized with activated charcoal, and finally steam deodorized. If desired, the product so obtained may then be winterized. The lower triglycerides used are preferably the mixed triglycerides of capric and caprylic acids in which the acids are present within the ratio range 15 : 85 to 35 : 65. Minor amounts of caproic and lauric acids may also be present in these mixed triglycerides (up to 4 % of the total), the individual permitted amounts being 1-1,5% and 1-2,5%, respectively. In a modification of the process, the oil to be treated is reacted directly with a mixture of the free lower fatty acids and glycerol, the glycerol being present in the amount required to produce a neutral oil. Those oils which contain 10-20% of the glycerides of the lower fatty acids are useful as margarine oils. Specification 820,269 is referred to.