<PICT:0859266/IV(b)/1> <PICT:0859266/IV(b)/2> Mixtures of fatty acids or fatty esters (including waxes) or fatty alcohols are separated into components of different melting points by a process in which (a) the starting material (lard, Sumatra palm oil, Congo palm oil, hardened olive oil, tallow fatty acids and a commercial fatty alcohol mixture are the substances used in Examples) is converted into an aqueous dispersion of solid and liquid articles of lower temperature suitably, by the use of solutions containing such surface active agents as soap, sodium alkylbenzene sulphonate, or sodium alkyl sulphate, together if desired with inorganic salts or with polyhydric alcohols, or polyether polyols which lower the freezing point of the solution, the heat removal stage being interrupted at least once by an intermediate stage in which no heat is withdrawn, and then (b) separating the dispersion at a temperature below that of the starting materials by known methods, e.g. by centrifuging. In general the ratio of the time occupied in the cooling stage to that in the intermediate stage is 200:1 to 1:200, and the time occupied in the intermediate stage is 4-200 times, preferably 10-50 times, that for the preceding cooling stage, while the time occupied in the cooling stage is 4-200 times, preferably 10-50 times, that for the preceding intermediate stage. If necessary the material may be heated in at least one intermediate stage. As shown in Fig. 1, a suitable apparatus comprises heat exchanger 11 into which starting material enters at 15. The material is cooled by means of cooling jacket 10 and is passed by means of rotating doctor blade 12 through pipe 16 to intermediate container 17, which contains rotating deflectors 19 to promote crystallization. In the apparatus of Fig. 3 the cooling process may be performed in several stages. The starting material is cooled in the vessel 31 provided with stirrer 34 before passing through distributing centre 36 to heat exchanger 30 and thence by distributing centre 37 back to vessel 31. When the material in vessel 31 has reached the desired temperature it is conveyed through 38 for further treatment, and meanwhile vessel 32 containing stirrer 35 is filled with material which is then similarly treated. Specifications 724,222, 742,354, 743,166 and 754,551 are referred to.ALSO:<PICT:0859266/III/1> Mixtures of fatty acids or fatty esters (including waxes) are separated into components of different melting points by a process in which (a) the starting material (lard, Sumatra palm oil, Congo palm oil, hardened olive oil, tallow fatty acids and a commercial fatty alcohol mixture are the substances used in examples) is converted into an aqueous dispersion of solid and liquid particles of lower temperature, suitably by the use of solutions containing such surface active agents as soap, sodium alkylbenzene sulphonate, or sodium alkyl sulphate, together if desired with inorganic salts or with polyhydric alcohols, or polyether polyols which lower the freezing point of the solution, the heat removal stage being interrupted at least once by an intermediate stage in which no heat is withdrawn, and then (b) separating the dispersion at a temperature below that of the starting materials by known methods, e.g. by centrifuging. In general the ratio of the time occupied in the cooling stage to that in the intermediate stage is 200:1 to 1:200, and the time occupied in the intermediate stage is 4-200 times, preferably 10-50 times, that for the preceding cooling stage, while the time occupied in the cooling stage is 4-200 times, preferably 10-50 times, that for the preceding intermediate stage. If necessary the material may be heated in at least one intermediate stage. As shown in Fig. 1, a suitable apparatus comprises heat exchanger 11 into which starting material enters at 15. The material is cooled by means of cooling jacket 10 and is passed by means of rotating doctor blade 12 through pipe 16 to intermediate container 17, which contains rotating deflectors 19 to promote crystallization. In the apparatus of Fig. 3 the cooling process may be performed in several stages. The starting material is cooled in the vessel 31 provided with stirrer 34 before passing through distributing centre 36 to heat exchanger 30 and thence by distributing centre 37 back to vessel 31. When the material in vessel 31 has reached the desired temperature it is conveyed through 38 for further treatment, and meanwhile vessel 32 containing stirrer 35 is filled with material which is then similarly treated. Specifications 724,222, 742,354, 743,166 and 754,551 are referred to.