Process for the preparation of a monoglyceride

• US 6,500,974 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
• Original Assignee: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
• Inventors: Thengumpillil, Narayana Balagopala Kaimal, Ayyagari, Ananta Laxmi, Penumarthy, Vijayalakshmi
• Primary Examiner(s): Carr, Deborah D.
• Application Number:
  US09/796,083
• Publication Number:
  US 20020120159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 554/161
• US Class Current: 554/161
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 67/08 by reacting carboxylic acids or symmetrical anhydrides with the hydroxy or O-metal group of organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 69/30 esterified with trihydroxylic compounds fats, oils C11B, C11C
• CPC Class Codes: C11C 3/02 by esterification of fatty acids with glycerol

Abstract

An improved process for the preparation of a monoglyceride by reacting a fatty acid and glycerol in the presence of a food grade polar solvent and avoiding the use of catalysts is provided.

Claims

1. A process for the preparation of a monoglyceride which comprises reacting a fatty acid and glycerol in a molar ratio in the range of 1:

1 to 1;

10, in the presence of a food grade polar solvent at a temperature in the range of 130-150°

C. for a time period in the range of 3-6 hours to obtain said monoglyceride.

2. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fatty acid is a straight or branched chain fatty acid of an acyl length between C-8 to C-22.

3. A process as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fatty acid is selected from lauric acid and stearic acid.

4. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the food grade polar solvent is selected from methyl lactate and lactic acid.

5. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fatty acid and glycerol is in a molar ratio in the range of 1:

2 to 1;

10.

6. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein unreacted glycerol and fatty acid are removed by dissolving the reaction mixture in diethyl ether and washing with water.

7. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein between 60-80% of the fatty acid is converted.

8. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the process yields a selectivity of monoglyceride over diglyceride between 60-98%.