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Method for preparing a lower alkyl ester product from vegetable oil

  • US 6,127,560 A
  • Filed: 12/29/1998
  • Issued: 10/03/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for preparing lower alkyl esters of soybean oil fatty acids by an alcoholysis reaction of the soybean fatty acid triglycerides with a lower alcohol which comprises the successive steps of:

  • a) comminuting the raw soybeans to crack open their hulls and shatter their kernels;

    b) heating the comminuted soybeans in a high-temperature reactor to elevated temperatures in the range of 235 to 350°

    F.;

    c) maintaining the soybeans at the elevated temperatures for a period of 1 to 60 minutes;

    d) partially removing the oil contained in the soybeans by mechanical means;

    e) degumming the crude soybean oil to reduce the concentration of phospholipid in the oil;

    f) bleaching the degummed soybean oil to further reduce gums and improve color of the oil;

    g) esterifying the fatty acid glycerides of the soybean oil by an alcoholysis reaction with a lower alcohol in the presence of an alkali catalyst to form fatty acid alcohol esters and glycerine, the conversion of the fatty acid glyceride being in the range of 90 to 99.5%h) separating the glycerine from the crude fatty acid esterification products by settling or other mechanical means;

    i) washing, in one or more steps, the crude fatty acid esterification products by trickling water through the products and allowing the mix of water and fatty acid esterification products to separate into two phases, washed and purified fatty acid esterification product and a water phase containing water, contaminants such as glycerine and unreacted lower alcohol and impurities from the soybean oil used.

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