GB867852A - Improvements in or relating to the modification of fatty oils - Google Patents

Abstract

Glyceride fatty oils are modified to replace combined lower fatty acids (C6-C10 acids) therein by higher fatty acids (C12-C22 acids) by a continuous process comprising passing a mixture of the oil and higher fatty acid containing at least a 30% molar excess of the latter relative to the combined lower fatty acids in the oil, through a reaction zone, heating the said zone to cause acid interchange to take place therein with distilling off of vapours containing liberated lower fatty acids, rectifying the vapours to condense any entrained higher fatty acids and return them to the reaction zone, passing the reacted oil through a stripping zone to vaporize free higher fatty acid from the oil, introducing fresh fatty oil incorporating make-up higher <PICT:0867852/III/1> fatty acid into the path of the vaporized higher fatty acid to absorb the same and passing the mixture of fresh oil and higher fatty acid to the reaction zone. As shown, coconut oil admixed with higher fatty acid (preferably C12-C18 acids) is fed via pipe 1, heat exchanger 2 and pipe 3 to a distributer 6 in the head of a column 7 of a deacidification zone and passes from the column base via pipes 11, 13 to a mid-section of a bubble-cap column 14. Acid-interchange occurs in the lower section where heat is provided by coils 17 and the liberated acids are distilled off as overheads. Reacted fatty oil containing unchanged higher fatty acid flows from the column base and is fed via pipe 21 to the boiler section 22 of the deacidification zone heated by coils 23. The higher fatty acids distil off from the modified oil, if desired with the aid of steam, and are absorbed in the fresh oil feed in the superimposed column and recycled to the reaction zone via pipe 11; the modified fatty oil substantially acid-free is withdrawn from the deacidification zone via pipe 25 and the heat-exchanger. The whole apparatus is preferably operated under reduced pressure, the pressure in the deacidification zone being maintained lower than that in column 14. In place of column 14 there may be used a packed tower or a series of chambers or kettles. The liberated lower fatty acids may be fractionally condensed. Palm kernel oil, tucum oil and babassu oil may be modified by the above method. The fatty acids may be refined before treatment and if desired hydrogenated before or after modification. U.S.A. Specification 2,182,332 is referred to.