Process for purifying products containing esters of a non-reducing sugar and one or more fatty acids
First Claim
1. Process for purifying esterification products containing fatty acid esters of a non-reducing sugar comprising subjecting esterification products containing fatty acid esters of a non-reducing sugar to an extraction treatment with supercritical carbon dioxide, wherein said extraction treatment comprises the step of passing supercritical carbon dioxide through a reaction vessel containing said esterification products containing fatty acid esters of a non-reducing sugar, wherein said esterification products containing fatty acid esters of a non-reducing sugar and any unreacted sugar and any salts remain behind after the extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide and further wherein any unreacted fatty acids and any fatty acid alkyl esters, and any solvents present as such, are extracted with the supercritical carbon dioxide.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a process for purifying crude products containing esters of a non-reducing sugar like sucrose, and one or more fatty acids such as palmitic acid, stearic acid etc. by subjecting the crude esterification products to an extraction treatment with supercritical carbon dioxide. After carrying out this extraction treatment a residue comprising the fatty acid esters of non-reducing sugars, the unreacted sugar and the salts as well as an extract comprising the fatty acids, fatty acid alkyl esters and also any solvents, if present, are obtained. The unreacted sugar and the salts, present in the obtained residue, can be removed from the residue by, for example, a washing operation resulting in a final product of pure esters of the non-reducing sugar and one or more fatty acids. This last removal step concerning the unreacted sugar and salts may also be carried out before the application of the above indicated extraction treatment with supercritical carbon dioxide.
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Citations
14 Claims
- 1. Process for purifying esterification products containing fatty acid esters of a non-reducing sugar comprising subjecting esterification products containing fatty acid esters of a non-reducing sugar to an extraction treatment with supercritical carbon dioxide, wherein said extraction treatment comprises the step of passing supercritical carbon dioxide through a reaction vessel containing said esterification products containing fatty acid esters of a non-reducing sugar, wherein said esterification products containing fatty acid esters of a non-reducing sugar and any unreacted sugar and any salts remain behind after the extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide and further wherein any unreacted fatty acids and any fatty acid alkyl esters, and any solvents present as such, are extracted with the supercritical carbon dioxide.
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