Abstract: Methods are described for removing contaminants, including glycidyl fatty acid esters, 3-monochloropropane diol and toxins from edible oils by using short path stripping at reduced temperatures and pressures.

Abstract: Methods are described for removing contaminants, including glycidyl fatty acid esters, 3-monochloropropane diol and toxins from edible oils by using short path stripping at reduced temperatures and pressures.

Abstract: A method for removing FFAs and toxins from edible oils, without requiring short path distillation and its attendant high temperatures and high loss of product, includes preheating a crude or refined edible oil input stream, having a toxic material content of at least about 1 PPB, to a temperature of about 400-450° F. and introducing the preheated edible oil stream to the top of a vertical stripper column operating at a pressure of about 0.1-3 Torr, typically about 2 Torr. The downward flowing edible oil stream in the stripper is stripped by superheated steam flowing in a countercurrent direction up through the stripper column. Refined and deodorized edible oil having a toxic material content of less than about 500 PPT, and typically as low as about 1 PPT, and at most about 0.2% by weight FFAs, is removed from the stripper.

Abstract: A method for removing FFAs and toxins from edible oils, without requiring short path distillation and its attendant high temperatures and high loss of product, includes preheating a crude or refined edible oil input stream, having a toxic material content of at least about 1 PPB, to a temperature of about 400-450° F. and introducing the preheated edible oil stream to the top of a vertical stripper column operating at a pressure of about 0.1-3 Torr, typically about 2 Torr. The downward flowing edible oil stream in the stripper is stripped by superheated steam flowing in a countercurrent direction up through the stripper column. Refined and deodorized edible oil having a toxic material content of less than about 500 PPT, and typically as low as about 1 PPT, and at most about 0.2% by weight FFAs, is removed from the stripper.

Abstract: A vertical wiped thin-film evaporator (WFE) may be bottom fed or top fed. Some embodiments have integral entrainment separation devices. Some embodiments are configured with replaceable rotor blade cartridges to facilitate experimenting with different blade configurations, blade pitches and directions (up or down) of thin film displacement for various modes of operation. Some embodiments can be operated in either co-current or counter-current modes, without requiring modification to their “overheads” (entrainment separation, condensing and vacuum) systems. Some embodiments include a variety of feed nozzles and/or a variety of “bottoms” nozzles. The available nozzles provide flexibility in operating the device, such as selecting a mode (top feeding or bottom feeding) of operation or co-current or counter-current vapor extraction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biodiesel process capable of yielding a mono-alkyl ester biodiesel. In one embodiment, a process for yielding biodiesel comprises providing a feed stream. Preferably, the feed stream comprises mono-alkyl esters, salts, alcohol and glycerol. The process also comprises substantially separating alcohol from the feed stream to yield a first stream. The first stream comprises mono-alkyl esters, glycerol and salts. A separation of alcohol from the first stream is performed by volatility. Furthermore, the process of the invention comprises substantially separating salts from the first stream to yield a vapor stream. The vapor stream also comprises mono-alkyl esters and glycerol. Separation of salts of the vapor stream is also performed by volatility. Glycerol and mono-alkyl esters of the vapor stream are also substantially separated so as to yield a biodiesel. Preferably, the biodiesel is a fuel grade biodiesel comprising fatty acid mono-alkyl esters.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biodiesel process capable of yielding a mono-alkyl ester biodiesel. In one embodiment, a process for yielding biodiesel comprises providing a feed stream. Preferably, the feed stream comprises mono-alkyl esters, salts, alcohol and glycerol. The process also comprises substantially separating alcohol from the feed stream to yield a first stream. The first stream comprises mono-alkyl esters, glycerol and salts. A separation of alcohol from the first stream is performed by volatility. Furthermore, the process of the invention comprises substantially separating salts from the first stream to yield a vapor stream. The vapor stream also comprises mono-alkyl esters and glycerol. Separation of salts of the vapor stream is also performed by volatility. Glycerol and mono-alkyl esters of the vapor stream are also substantially separated so as to yield a biodiesel. Preferably, the biodiesel is a fuel grade biodiesel comprising fatty acid mono-alkyl esters.

Abstract: A method for the concentration and separation of a sterol-containing plant mixture employing a single, rotary, thin film horizontal evaporator for saponification of the mixture in a reaction zone, evaporation of volatile by-products, and discharge of a soap product and free sterol mixture in an evaporation zone for subsequent separation, purification, and recovery of free sterols and a soap product.