Abstract: Processes for obtaining fatty acids with reduced content of by-products, wherein unrefined fats or oils are subjected to steam stripping in a counter-current column to produce a bottom fraction of de-acidified fats or oils, a first distillate consisting mainly of fatty acids and glycerides, and a second distillate comprising fatty acids and essentially all unwanted ketones, aldehydes and phenols, and the bottom fraction containing the de-acidified fats or oils is combined with the first distillate containing fatty acids and glycerides.

Abstract: Described is a process for obtaining fatty acid C1-C4 alkyl esters from unrefined fats and oils, wherein: (a) unrefined fats or oils having an acid value of from 1 to 20 are treated with hot steam in a counter-current column to provide a first fraction of free fatty acids and low boiling impurities and a second fraction of de-acidified and de-watered fats or oils; (b) said first fraction is subjected to esterification with lower C1-C4 alcohols to provide a third fraction of fatty acid C1-C4 alkyl esters; (c) said second and said third fraction are combined and subjected to a low pressure transesterification to provide an intermediate fraction of fatty acid C1-C4 alkyl esters, C1-C4 alcohols and glycerol; and (d) said intermediate is subjected to a separation process to remove C1-C4 alcohols and the glycerol to provide a second fraction of C1-C4 alkyl esters.

Abstract: Described are processes for obtaining fatty acids with reduced content of by-products, wherein: (a) unrefined fats or oils are subjected to steam stripping in a counter-current column to produce (i) a bottom fraction of de-acidified fats or oils, (ii) a first distillate consisting mainly of fatty acids and glycerides, and (iii) a second distillate comprising fatty acids and essentially all unwanted ketones, aldehydes and phenols; and (b) said bottom fraction (i) containing the de-acidified fats or oils and said first distillate (ii) containing fatty acids and glycerides are combined.