Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a glyceryl ether-containing composition, the method including: a deodorization step for bringing a glyceryl ether-containing product selected from the group consisting of a monohexyl glyceryl ether-containing product, a monocyclohexyl glyceryl ether-containing product and a mixture thereof into contact with water vapor in an environment having a reduced pressure of 0.10 kPa or more and 10 kPa or less for 60 minutes or more and 600 minutes or less; and an addition step for adding 0.05 to 0.30 parts by mass of an antioxidant containing d-?-tocopherol to 100 parts by mass of the glyceryl ether-containing product, and also provides a glyceryl ether-containing composition containing specific amounts of a specific glyceryl ether and an antioxidant containing d-?-tocopherol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for improving the quality of edible oils or fats and in the process an edible oil is passed through an oil refining equipment consisting of a stripping column with packing and not more than one oil collection tray. It further relates to the use of the refining equipment consisting of a stripping column with packing and not more than one oil collection tray, for degrading, decomposing or breaking down oxidation products of triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides and/or fatty acids.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for fractionating biomass-based material. The process includes evaporating an evaporable part of biomass-based material in a short path evaporator, SPE, to produce a depitched lights fraction in liquid form, and a heavier pitch fraction. The depitched lights fraction may contain depitched tall oil in liquid form, and the heavier pitch fraction may contain tall oil pitch, TOP.

Abstract: A method of fractionating a mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs) containing composition by loading the composition onto an adsorbing support, separating a fraction which is enriched in MELs from the support using supercritical carbon dioxide, and optionally separating one or more further fractions enriched in MELs from the support using supercritical carbon dioxide and an optional co-solvent. The MELs can be obtained at high concentration by using only “green” solvents.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a refined fat or oil, including: carrying out a first steam treatment of bringing a fat or oil into contact with water vapor; subsequently carrying out a treatment of bringing the fat or oil into contact with an adsorbent; and further carrying out a second steam treatment of bringing the fat or oil having a temperature lower by 10° C. or more than a temperature of the fat or oil in the first steam treatment into contact with water vapor.

Abstract: A process for making a deodorized edible oil or fat having a low level of bound MCPD (monochloro propanediol esters) and/or low level of bound 3-MCPD is described. The process comprises a step of stripping the vegetable oil or fat with an inert gas. The inert gas can be nitrogen. A deodorized vegetable oil or fat and a food product made there from are described. The food product can be an infant formula. It exhibits low levels of bound MCPD and/or low level of bound 3-MCPD. In one embodiment the oil or fat has a reduced level of free fatty acid as well as a limpid aspect and no off-flavors.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for the isolation of oils from intact or lysed microorganisms in aqueous media with pressurized carbon dioxide as a solute. Such oils may be used for the production of biofuels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of at least one vegetable oil refining industry by-product to obtain a purified total unsaponifiable of vegetable oil cleared of the impurities initially present in the said by-product, advantageously cleared of sapid and odorous compounds and/or chemical compounds resulting from the deterioration and the degradation of vegetable oils. The invention further relates to a method for obtaining a purified total unsaponifiable of vegetable oil from at least one vegetable oil refining industry by-product. The invention further relates to a purified total unsaponifiable of vegetable oil able to be obtained by this method, as well as compositions containing such an unsaponifiable. The invention further relates to such unsaponifiables or such compositions for the use thereof as a drug, medical device, dermatological agent, cosmetic agent or nutraceutical, in humans or animals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of deodorized and stabilized food-grade marine oils by submitting marine oils to a counter-current steam distillation (CCSD) in a thin film column containing a structured packing and, if desired, adding antioxidant(s), to the food-grade marine oils thus obtained and to their uses in the food/feed, cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract: A continuous process for the dry fractionation of edible oils and fats using one or more crystallisers in series, said process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a molten fat; (b) continuously feeding said molten oil or fat to the first of said one or more crystallisers in series in which the fat is gradually cooled by using heat exchangers containing a cooling medium so that a crystal slurry is formed, each of said one or more crystallisers exhibiting a temperature gradient, the temperature at the point where the molten or partially crystallised fat enters one of the crystallisers being higher than that at the point where the slurry leaves that crystalliser; (c) continuously withdrawing said slurry from the last of said one or more crystallisers; (d) separating said crystal slurry by filtration in a filter cake and a filtrate, wherein said process further comprises the step of at least partially melting fat encrustations deposited on said heat exchangers; and an oil fraction produced by therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a semi-continuous deodoriser comprising at least one stripping section, which stripping section comprises a feed buffer tray for liquids, a liquid flow regulating means, a liquid distributor, a structured packing, and a receiver tray, wherein the regulating means are regulating the liquid flow from the feed buffer tray to the distributor to distribute the flow of liquid over the structured packing. The liquid is in the packing contacted in counter-current flow to an already once-used stripping agent which is recovered from one of more of the trays installed in the apparatus. The invention relates further to a method for refining fats and oils in a semi-continuous deodoriser, a method for re-using stripping agent in a semi-continuous deodoriser, segregating the recovered distillate into high purity types matching the feed type, and a use of the semi-continuous deodoriser.

Abstract: The process and apparatus are for removing a solute from a solute-bearing solid product by means of a solvent which remains in liquid state throughout the entire oil extraction process. In one embodiment, the solvent is normally in gaseous state at ambient temperature and pressure values, but is used mainly in liquid state within the method and apparatus of the present invention by maintaining such pressure and temperature values within the apparatus so that the solvent will remain in this liquid state.

Abstract: Method for improving the performance of a preparative batchwise Super Critical Fluid Chromatographic separation for the recovery of a target fatty acid or derivative thereof, or of a group of target fatty acids or of derivatives thereof from a mixture, characterized in that the said Super Critical Fluid Chromatographic separation employs a chromatographic column charged with a stationary phase chosen from the group consisting of aluminium oxide or aluminium oxides, titanium oxide or titanium oxides, silica gel or silica gels, amino propyl modified silica gels, diol modified silica gels, phenyl modified silica gels and “reversed phase” phases, the former in turn chosen from the group consisting of RP18, RP8 and RP3, and in that the said Super Critical Fluid Chromatographic Separation further employs a mobile phase chosen from the group consisting of ethylene, propane, ammonia, dinitrogen dioxide and CO2, wherein in the said method, during the run of the said mixture on the chromatographic column, a pressure an

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous process of DHA enrichment of a solution of fatty acids or derivatives thereof comprising less than 50% of DHA relative to the total fatty acids of the solution or to derivatives thereof, wherein the process comprises the steps of (a) simultaneous countercurrent injection, into a fractionation column, of the flow of the solution of fatty acids or of derivatives thereof and of a flow of supercritical CO2 at a temperature of less than or equal to 70° C. and at a pressure of between 100×105 Pa and 160×105 Pa, wherein the level of supercritical CO2 is between 30 and 70, and (b) recovery of the residue comprising at least 50% of DHA relative to the total fatty acids of the residue or to derivatives thereof, wherein the DHA yield is greater than or equal to 60%.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using carbon dioxide to remove an alkali catalyst and to recover free carboxylic acids after a transesterification reaction are disclosed. Generally, the methods include first providing a mixture resulting from the transesterification of an ester, wherein the mixture includes substances selected from the alkali catalyst, an alcohol, and a transesterification reaction product such as biodiesel. Second, the methods generally include adding carbon dioxide to the mixture. In some cases, adding the carbon dioxide to the mixture causes the alkali catalyst to convert into an alkali carbonate and/or an alkali bicarbonate. In other cases, adding the carbon dioxide to the mixture causes the carboxylic acid alkali salt to convert into a free carboxylic acid. In either case, the alkali carbonate, the alkali bicarbonate, and/or the free carboxylic acid can be separated from the mixture in any suitable manner.

Abstract: A safe additive that increases the feeling effects from a hair cosmetic is provided at low costs. The additive that increases the feeling effects has less stickiness, can be easily and uniformly mixed with hair cosmetics, and can provide feelings, effects and advantages that are similar to those of sterol wax and lanolins including lanolin itself, liquid lanolin, and hard lanolin. The additive that increases the feeling effects contains a composition (I) prepared by distillation, fatty acid esterification, decoloring, and deodorization of a by-product obtained when tocopherol is extracted, separated and purified from a vegetable oil deodorized distillate.

Abstract: A process for extracting a wide range of lipophilic compounds from urea-containing solutions is described. The process utilises a near-critical fluid as the extraction solvent. The process is particularly applicable to the extraction of polyunsaturated fatty acids from the filtrate obtained upon urea fractionation, as employed in the processing of fish and other oils. In contrast to known processes, the lipophilic compounds may be extracted without the use of non-food grade solvents, and are suitable for pharmaceutical and cosmetic use.

Abstract: Methods for processing oils and apparatus for carrying out such methods are disclosed herein. One embodiment provides a method for processing a partially processed oil, wherein the oil includes glycerides and a volatilizable impurity fraction. The partially processed oil may be processed by driving off a first volatiles stream having a portion of the glycerides and at least a portion of the volatilizable impurity fraction, leaving a deodorized oil. The first volatiles stream may be introduced into a first condensing chamber and a glyceride-rich, impurity-poor fraction may be condensed from the first volatiles stream, leaving a glyceride-poor, impurity-rich second volatiles stream. The second volatiles stream may be passed into a second condensing chamber and a glyceride-poor, impurity-rich second condensate may be condensed from the second volatiles stream.

Abstract: A method for the recovery of fatty acids comprising a salt of the fatty acid is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: (a) reacting the salt of the fatty acid with CO2 and with a reagent other than hydroxide and selected from a group of compounds carrying at least one of O—H, N—H, S—H, C—O—C and C—O—N moieties, to form a reaction mixture comprising at least one of a carbonate and a bicarbonate and a product selected from fatty acids and derivatives thereof, and (b) separating the product from the reaction mixture. A method for the production of fatty acid ester from free fatty acid of crude vegetable oil is also disclosed. A free fatty acid that is substantially free of emulsifier is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for producing unsaturated and saturated free fatty acid from trap oils, trap greases, brown greases and grease trap waste as starting material. The process consist in subjecting the starting material to a pretreatment, a first purification step, a fractional step, a second purification step and eventually a hydrogenation step. Methyl esters of unsaturated and saturated free fatty acids, oleic acid and stearin is obtained from this process.

Abstract: This invention relates to a crosslinking composition comprising a compound having the structure of Formula I: where Z is a hydrogen, an alkyl of 1 to about 18 carbon atoms, an aryl of about 6 to about 24 carbon atoms, an aralkyl of about 7 to about 24 carbon atoms, or —NR2R2; each R2 is independently hydrogen, an alkyl, aryl or an aralkyl of 1 to about 18 carbon atoms or R3; where R3 is —CHROR1 or where R is alkyl, halogenated alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, halogenated aralkyl, alkoxyalkyl or an alkaryl having from 1 to about 24 carbon atoms; R1 is a hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkoxyalkyl or an alkaryl having from 1 to about 24 carbon atoms; and where the alkyl or aryl groups in each radical may optionally have heteroatoms in their structure; B is a residue of a poly(alkylaldehyde) with n aldehyde groups; n is an integer of 2 to about 4; and A is an amino moiety derived from the group consisting of guanamine and melamine.

Abstract: The present invention provides certain improdes certain improvements in methods for processing vegetable oils and apparatus for carrying out such methods. One embodiment provides a method for processing a partially processed oil including glycerides and a volatilizable impurity fraction. The partially processed oil may processed by driving off a first volatiles stream comprising a portion of the glycerides and at least a portion of the volatilizable impurity fraction, leaving a deodorized oil. The first volatiles stream may be introduced into a first condensing chamber and a glyceride-rich, impurity fraction, leaving a deodoride-poor, impurity-rich second volatiles stream. The second colatiles stream may be passed into a second condensing chamber and a glyceride-poor, impurity-rich second condensate may be condensed from the second volatiles stream.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for treating distillates obtained during the process of deodorizing various oils. More particularly, this invention relates to methods for recovering fatty acids, tocopherols, and sterols from a distillate obtained from the deodorizing of various oils.

Abstract: A two-step (two-stage) columnar supercritical fluid fractionation process enriches phytosterols and phytosterol esters in vegetable oils, particularly vegetable oils containing oryzanol and/or fatty acid or ferulic esters of phytosterols. The first stage is a deacidification and the second stage is a phytosterol enrichment. The method may be conducted in a continuous or semi-continuous mode of column operation and yields a product that is essentially free of residual objectionable or organic solvent.

Abstract: Polyunsaturated fatty acids, as free fatty acids, fatty acid esters or fatty acid amides, especially EPA and/or DHA, DPC 9/02, are recovered from urea adducts, such as obtained as by-products in the processing of fish and other oils, by treatment with a subcritical or supercritical fluid.

Abstract: The invention is a method for improving the color and color stability of oleic acid by a two column distillation process in which the oleic acid to be color improved is introduced into a first distillation zone containing an enriching section and a stripping section providing a minor amount of a topping product and a major amount of underflow containing the oleic acid and passing the oleic acid to a bottom portion of a second distillation zone having an enriching section to recover the improved oleic acid with improved color and color stability as a top product from the second distillation zone.

Abstract: Equipment for use in the physical refining and/or deodorization of edible oils and fats, comprising a shell containing a number of superimposed trays for degassing, heating, cooling and/or deodorization purposes and containing a scrubber, characterised in that the scrubber is located at the lowest part inside the deodoriser shell. The process makes use of such equipment.

Abstract: A method, with high yield and improved selectively, for making a 2-(&ohgr;-alkoxycarbonylalkanoyl)-4-butanolide and an alkaline metal salt thereof, an ester of &ohgr;-hydroxy-(&ohgr;-3)-ketoaliphatic acid as a novel compound and a derivative thereof, and a method for making the same are provided.

Abstract: The color level in milkfat is reduced by heating milkfat to 200 degrees C. and 300 degrees C. for a period of less than tern minutes, preferably using an intimate thermal contact between the heater and the milkfat. The heater may in one embodiment have a heated inner core which may include a plurality of longitudinal or spiral or other grooves of channels on its outer surface to provide elongate flow paths for the milkfat.

Abstract: A composition containing polyunsaturated fatty acid glycerides is purified by means of supercritical fluid fractionation in one or more countercurrent columns operated either with internal reflux achieved by a temperature gradient along the column or with an external reflux achieved through external regulation of the pressure, and using as the solvent a mixture of supercritical CO2 and a polar co-solvent. Oligomeric and malodorous impurities in particular can be successfully removed by this process, which also can, if desired, be followed, or preceded, by another supercritical fluid fractionation with supercritical C02 under conditions adjusted so as to favor fractionation of the glyceride components.

Abstract: A vacuum vessel for continuous or semicontinuous treatment of fatty oils in connection with deodorization includes spaces through which the oil which is to be treated is brought to pass. The vessel also contains U-tubes used to heat or cool the oil and perforated pipes arranged at the bottom of the vessel. Through these pipes stripping gas is led into the oil. The vacuum vessel is connected to a vacuum source. According to the invention the vessel has the form of a container with a mainly rectangular bottom with partitions parallel to a long side of the container. These partitions delimit channels connected in series through which the oil passes. The bottom of a first channel as seen in the direction of flow is arranged on a higher level than the second channel seen in the direction of flow such that the oil is forced to pass through the vessel by gravity. The vacuum vessel has a low height in relation to the length of its sides.

Abstract: Stripping of volatile substances from less volatile fluids as in the deodorisation and steam refining of fats and oils in an elongate conduit (1) in which the rate of flow of stripping gas is accelerated by having it emerge from a constriction (5;18) to which an inlet (6;20) for liquid feed material is operatively connected is achieved by having the path for food material downstream of the constriction (5;18) provided at intervals with inclined baffle surfaces (8) extended in the flow direction of the path across part of the cross-section thereof to project back into the gas within the path liquid film which has accumulated on the wall of the path.

Abstract: A process for recovering at least one of purified polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid mixtures from a feed composition includes a step of (i) treating the composition by either (a) stationary bed chromatography or (b) multistage countercurrent column fractionation in which a solvent is a fluid at supercritical pressure, and recovering at least one PUFA-enriched fraction. The process also includes a step of (ii) subjecting the fraction recovered in the treating step to further fractionation by simulated continuous countercurrent moving bed chromatography, and recovering at least one fraction containing the purified PUFA or the PUFA mixture.

Abstract: A useful method for shifting the flavour balance of edible oils comprises sparging nitrogen through the oil at a temperature of 20.degree.-65.degree. C. Olive oil is preferably treated at 30.degree.-40.degree. C. The treatment may be combined with usual purification steps as are washing and filtration over a filter aid.

Abstract: A combined vertical column and shallow tray semicontinuous deodoriser for edible oils and fats and comprising a column (10) of discrete vessels and a deodorising vessel (13) disposed within or valve-connective thereto. In the operation of the device, heated oil from a vessel (12) is supplied to deodorising vessel (13) wherein it is circulated by steam injection at (33) through a lift tube (29), between a plurality of vertically separated self draining shallow trays (26, 27, 28). The entire oil content of deodorising vessel (13) is circulated therethrough approximately once a minute for a period in the region of eighteen minutes to strip free fatty acids and other volatile components from the oil by falling curtain and steam sparge techniques, and then the oil batch is discharged to a heat recovery vessel (14) and a cooling vessel (15) before product discharge.

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 relates to a process for recovering heat from deodorized edible oils and stabilizing the same comprising: introducing or injecting non-condensible inert gas into hot deodorized edible oil as the hot deodorized edible oil is cooled by indirectly heat exchanging with crude oil to be deodorized.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for deodorizing edible oils and/or fats comprising: heating edible oil and/or fat to an elevated temperature; introducing or injecting non-condensible inert gas into said edible oil and/or fat to strip or remove substances that impart disagreeable odor and taste to said edible oil and/or fat; and recovering the resulting deodorized edible oil and/or fat, wherein an amount of said non-condensible inert gas introduced or injected is substantially less than the theoretically required amount for deodorizing said edible oil and/or fat. The condensible gas may be preheated before its introduction into the edible oil and/or fat.

Abstract: A method for recovering at least one unsaturated fatty acid having sixteen or more carbon atoms and/or at least one compound of such a fatty acid from a mixture derived from vegetable, animal or marine sources is provided. Fatty acids and/or fatty acid compounds of the mixture, in free acid or esterified form, are passed into a mobile phase of liquid carbon dioxide in a column over a stationary phase. The stationary phase contains a support and a material bound to the support which contains at least one free electron pair and/or multiple bond. After eluting any saturated fatty acid or fatty acid compound of the same number of carbon atoms from the column, the unsaturated fatty acid and/or fatty acid compound is recovered in pure chemical form or as an enriched mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recovering heat from deodorized edible oils and stabilizing the same comprising: introducing or injecting non-condensible inert gas into hot deodorized edible oil as the hot deodorized edible oil is cooled by indirectly heat exchanging with crude oil to be deodorized.

Abstract: An extraction process comprising contracting a material to be extracted with an extracting fluid at elevated pressure within a defined space, and separating the extracted fluid and extract as a mass, from the extracted material while reducing the volume of the defined space and while maintaining the elevated pressure within the defined space. Apparatus for carrying out the process is adapted to separate the extracting fluid and the extract, as a mass, from the extracted material, while maintaining elevated pressure and reducing the volume as the point of separation.

Abstract: An improved low temperature process for extracting oil from oil-bearing materials by extracting the oil-bearing material in an extraction zone with a normally gaseous solvent selected from propane, butane, and mixtures thereof. As the resulting solvent/oil mixture is passed through the bed of extracted oil-bearing material, from the extraction zone, and to a separation zone, it is done so under conditions that will maintain the solvent in liquid form. The resulting extracted materials have substantially more of their protein and vitamin value intact when compared with similar materials extracted by more conventional high temperature methods. The present process is also a lower energy consuming process than more conventional, extractive processes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for deodorizing edible oils and/or fats comprising: heating edible oil and/or fat to an elevated temperature; introducing or injecting non-condensible inert gas into said edible oil and/or fat to strip or remove substances that impart disagreeable odor and taste to said edible oil and/or fat; and recovering the resulting deodorized edible oil and/or fat, wherein an amount of said non-condensible inert gas introduced or injected is substantially less than the theoretically required amount for deodorizing said edible oil and/or fat. The condensible gas may be preheated before its introduction into the edible oil and/or fat.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating a sewage sludge-derived oil having a particular chemical composition, to reduce its odor. The method includes the first step of distilling the sewage sludge-derived oil to 150.degree. C. to remove water and volatile organic components, and then the essential step of circulating a gas consisting essentially of carbon dioxide gas therethrough.

Abstract: The present invention provides an extractive separation method in which a solute contained in a medium can be efficiently extracted and separated with a lower consumption of energy under the remarkably gentle operating conditions. This method consists in that a medium containing a solute consisting of organic substances is brought into contact with a solvent consisting of organic substances or inorganic substances, which have the critical temperature of 5.degree. to 152.degree. C.