×

Process for preparing fatty acid esters of short-chain monohydric alcohols

  • US 5,434,279 A
  • Filed: 05/06/1994
  • Issued: 07/18/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. In a process for preparing fatty acid esters and mixtures of fatty acid esters of short-chain monohydric alcohols having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms or short-chain diols having from 2 to 5 carbon atoms, which are monoalkylated by alkyl radicals having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, by trans-esterification of fatty acid glycerides with the alcohols or monoalkylated diols in the presence of a basic catalyst, in a plurality of steps, the improvement which comprises:

  • a) carrying out a trans-esterification in the presence of from 0.5% to 5.0% of a basic catalyst, based on the amount of fatty acid glyceride, and in the presence of a short-chain alcohol or monoalkylated diol in an excess over a stoichiometric quantity of from 10% to 200% per mol of glycerine-bound fatty acid; and

    obtaining a relatively lighter fatty acid ester phase and a relatively heavier glycerine phase by settling and separating;

    b) subjecting the relatively higher fatty acid ester phase obtained in step a) to transesterification in the presence of a basic catalyst and a short-chain alcohol or a monoalkylated diol;

    c) adding at least one-tenth of the relatively heavier glycerine phase obtained in step a), while stirring; and

    obtaining a fatty acid ester phase and a heavy glycerine phase by settling and separating;

    d) removing excess short-chain alcohol or monoalkylated diol from the fatty acid ester phase obtained in step c, subsequently stirring in acid and, after a completed phase separation, removing the fatty acid ester phase.

View all claims
  • 0 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×