Abstract: Reacting a partial polyol monocarboxylic acid ester with an acidic anhydride in the presence of a catalytic material selected from the group consisting of stannic chloride, ferric chloride, zinc chloride and mixtures thereof to produce specific complete mixed polyol esters, especially synthetic cocoa butter, with substantially no ester group rearrangement.

Abstract: A process for preparing polyglycerol by heating glycerol under reduced pressure in the presence of a catalytic quantity of sulfuric acid and a low molecular weight glyceride until from about 25 to about 75 percent of the glycerol is polymerized. The condensation is terminated by inactivating the catalyst by adding a substantially stoichiometric amount of a suitable neutralizing agent. Unreacted glycerol and cyclic diglycerol are removed by distillation. The polyglycerol so prepared can advantageously be employed in the preparation of polyglycerol fatty acid esters which are excellent food emulsifiers.