Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of fatty acid esters from fats and oils of biological origin by transesterification with monohydric alcohols in the presence of basic catalysts, the catalysts being salts of a basic organic compound and carbonic acid.

Abstract: To remove free fatty acids from fats or oils of biological origin or their steam distillates, it is proposed to extract the free fatty acids with a mixture of basic organic nitrogen compounds and water as extraction medium at a temperature below the boiling point of the organic nitrogen compounds. The content of the basic organic nitrogen compounds in the extraction medium shall be at least about 20% by weight and at most about 60% by weight, preferably between about 30% by weight and about 40% by weight. In this manner, the formation of a viscous soapstock which is difficult to remove is prevented. The boiling point of the basic organic nitrogen compound(s) used shall be the same as or above the boiling point of water and below the boiling point of the fatty acids to be extracted in order to enable simple recovery of the extraction medium.

Abstract: A process for recovering lecithin from oil- and lecithin-containing mixtures, comprising extracting a lecithin/oil mixture with an extractant selected from the group consisting of a hydrocarbon having 3 carbon atoms, an unbranched hydrocarbon having 4 carbon atoms, a branched hydrocarbon having 4 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof, at a pressure of from 1 to 8 MPa and a temperature of from 20 to 100.degree. C., which conditions ensure liquid phase extraction with the development of two liquid phases, one of which is an oil enriched liquid hydrocarbon phase and the other of which is a lecithin enriched hydrocarbon phase; separating the two liquid hydrocarbon phases; and recovering substantially lecithin-free oil from the oil-enriched phase and substantially oil-free, pure lecithin from the lecithin-enriched phase.

Abstract: Described is a process for removing glycerol and/or diglycerol from glycerides and glyceride mixtures by extraction, which process is characterized in that the glyceride or glyceride mixture is dissolved in organic compounds which preferably contain carbonyl and hydroxyl groups, if desired in combination with hydrocarbons, and that glycerol is extracted from the resulting solution with the aid of water. Thereby glycerol concentrations in the material to be purified of 0.1 weight % or lower may be obtained in a simple manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recovering monoglycerides and optionally diglycerides and/or triglycerides as well as optionally glycerol from mixtures comprising glycerides and glycerol containing glycerides, respectively, by countercurrent extraction with a circulating extraction. As an extractant, forming a separate phase, there is used a hydrocarbon having a density of more than 180 kg/m.sup.3 and/or trifluoromethane having a density of more than 180 kg/m.sup.3.

Abstract: The invention involves a process for substantially separating the components of mixtures of substances at least one of which is of low volatility while the other is of low or no volatility, the process using a compressed gas under supercritical conditions and an entrainer which increases the concentration of said mixture in the gaseous phase as well as the separation factor between the components to be separated. The process operates in two distillation zones the first of which substantially separates the components of low volatility in a process similar to a rectification process while the second distillation zone separates the top product of the first distillation zone from the gas with the aid of the entrainer which is condensed partially and in this state is passed in countercurrent to the gas carrying the separated component of low volatility.