Abstract: Provided herein are rosin-containing materials, including crude tall oil (CTO), tall oil rosin (TOR), distilled tall oil (DTO), crude fatty acid (CFA), as well as methods of making thereof. The rosin-containing materials can exhibit improved color (e.g., a reduced Gardner color), reduced sulfur content, improved color stability, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of making rosin esters. The methods can involve contacting a rosin ester with a microporous adsorbent. Treatment with a microporous adsorbent, such as an activated carbon, can improve the color of the rosin ester (e.g., reduce the neat Gardner color of the rosin ester by at least 1 Gardner color unit), reduce the concentration of sulfur in the rosin ester (e.g., reduce the concentration of sulfur in the rosin ester by at least 50 ppm), or combinations thereof. Rosin esters prepared by the methods described herein, as well as methods of using thereof, are also described.