Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying renewable feedstock comprising fatty acids, said process comprising the steps, where the renewable feedstock comprising fatty acids comprises at least one acid oil and at least another renewable feedstock, and it is treated with an aqueous medium, to obtain a mixture, and a first stream comprising water is separated from said mixture and a second stream comprising fatty acids is obtained as purified renewable feedstock.

Abstract: A process for reducing or removing at least 90% of sulfur in a tall oil composition, e.g., to a level of 15 ppm or less is disclosed. The process employs at least a first desulfurization and a second desulfurization treatment in parallel or in series. The first treatment comprises adsorptive desulfurization, wherein the adsorbent material comprises silica adsorbent having an average pore size between 50-200 ?, BET surface area of at least 300 m2/g, pore volume of 1.20 to 3.00 cc/g, and a silanol [Si—OH] level of 0.5 to 5 unit/nm2. The second desulfurization treatment is selected from adsorptive treatment, heat treatment, distillation, extraction, oxidation, reduction, hydrogenation, and sulfur scavenging for a reduced sulfur content.

Abstract: The present invention relates to process for purifying renewable feedstock comprising at least one acidulated soap-stock, wherein said process comprises the steps, where the renewable feedstock comprising at least one fatty acid is treated in a treating step with an aqueous medium, and a first stream comprising water and a second stream comprising fatty acids are obtained, and the second stream is obtained as purified renewable feedstock.

Abstract: A method comprises providing a carbohydrate; reacting the carbohydrate with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenolysis catalyst to produce reaction products comprising an alcohol, a polyol, and a higher polyol; recycling the higher polyol through the hydrogenolysis reaction to produce reaction products comprising an alcohol and a polyol and a higher polyol; processing at least a portion of the reaction products to form a fuel blend.

Abstract: A method comprises a providing a carbohydrate; reacting the carbohydrate directly with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenolysis catalyst to produce a reaction product comprising a polyol; and then processing at least a portion of the reaction product to form a fuel blend.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of tall oil from soap oil and to the use of heating in order to improve the production of tall oil. Soap oil, which has been produced by neutralization of tall oil soap, is acidulated by reacting the soap oil with an acid and freed tall oil is recovered. In the acidulation step, the temperature is raised above 100° C., preferably over 105° C., for improving the acidulation of soap oil. The acid is preferably concentrated sulfuric acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for providing tall oil or tall oil fuel from tall oil soap. In the process, tall oil soap, which may be neutralized with carbon dioxide, is treated with an alkaline earth metal compound to convert sodium soaps into alkaline earth metal soaps. The conversion reduces the sodium content and increases the heat value of the product. The converted product may be used to provide a low sodium fuel or it may be acidulated with a minimum of sulfur.

Abstract: A process for separating sodium bicarbonate brine from crude tall oil or for separating sulfate brine from soap oil, such as in a recovery process in a pulp mill. A water solution having an increased density is added during the neutralization of crude tall oil soap with carbon dioxide or acidulation of soap oil with sulfuric acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for the cleaning of crude tall oil soap. Crude soap floating on top of a layer of black liquor is cleaned with carbon dioxide, in a tall oil recovery system containing a cleaning vessel (T) for crude tall oil soap and black liquor. Said vessel has a carbon dioxide inlet (6) for introducing cleaning carbon dioxide into the soap. The cleaning vessel (T) is also provided with a black liquor separately from the cleaned soap. The cleaned soap may be acidified so as to provide tall oil.

Abstract: The invention relates to acidification of soap, wherein the acidification is performed with a sodium bisulphite solution produced by absorbing the SO.sub.2 entrained in the flue gases obtained from the combustion of odor gases derived from a chemical pulp mill into an alkaline sodium solution which is NaOH or oxidized white liquor, or with a sodium bisulphite solution which is NaHSO.sub.3 -containing mother liquid obtained from SO.sub.2 or NaHSO.sub.3 acidification of soap. The acidification can be conducted in one or more steps and by the cross-current and/or counter-current method by recycling the Na.sub.2 SO.sub.3 mother liquid obtained from the acidification.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the conversion of tall oil soap to produce crude tall oil. An aqueous tall oil soap solution generated in a kraft wood-pulping process is placed in contact with carbon dioxide, under pressure, to form crude tall oil and sodium bicarbonate brine. The crude tall oil and sodium bicarbonate brine are then allowed to separate, under pressure, into a crude tall oil layer and a sodium bicarbonate brine layer. The crude tall oil layer is then separated from the sodium bicarbonate brine layer, again under pressure. The separated crude tall oil may then be further refined to yield fatty acids, resin acids, and other constituents, which are useful in numerous industrial applications, such as in soaps, lubricants, inks, adhesives, and coatings.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the efficient recycling of carbon dioxide used in high pressure tall oil soap acidulation processes. The excess carbon dioxide used in the high pressure tall oil soap acidulation processes is recycled and contacted with an aqueous tall oil soap solution at a point before the high pressure contacting stage. Preferably, the recycled carbon dioxide is contacted in a first reactor, under pressure, to provide a preliminary tall oil mixture having an extent of acidification beyond the presence of a gel phase. Methods are provided for the monitoring of the acidulation reaction in the first reactor to maintain the extent of acidification beyond the gel phase region.

Abstract: A process for producing increased concentrations of valuable neutrals such as sterols and tocopherols from fatty and/or resin acid-containing streams, such as tall oil and vegetable oil distillate, employs liquid water at elevated temperatures and pressures. The neutrals are concentrated by extracting fatty acids as well as resin acids of high purity. Temperature-dependent solubility differences allow for the further separation of resin acids from fatty acids.