Abstract: Subject-matter of the invention is a process for producing fatty alcohols by catalytic hydrogenation of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME), in which the FAME initially is hydrogenated to fatty alcohol (FA). The fractions of non-converted FAME remaining in the hydrogenation product are converted to wax ester and methanol in a succeeding transesterification step with FA. According to the invention, catalysts on the basis of magnesium oxide or hydrotalcite are used. After separating the methanol and the FA as target product, a stream enriched in wax ester is recirculated to the hydrogenation reactor.

Abstract: Subject-matter of the invention is a process for producing fatty alcohols by catalytic hydrogenation of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME), in which the FAME initially is hydrogenated to fatty alcohol (FA). The fractions of non-converted FAME remaining in the hydrogenation product are converted to wax ester and methanol in a succeeding transesterification step with FA. According to the invention, catalysts on the basis of magnesium oxide or hydrotalcite are used. After separating the methanol and the FA as target product, a stream enriched in wax ester is recirculated to the hydrogenation reactor.

Abstract: A process for continuous production of biodiesel from vegetable oils or animal fats by transesterification with methanol or ethanol to give crude fatty acid alkyl esters, subsequent washing with water in a wash column to remove water-soluble impurities, subsequent drying by vaporization of the water content and subsequent removal of steryl glycosides by adsorption onto calcium bentonite, wherein the adsorption column(s) used is/are regenerated in a first step, for desorption of the steryl glycosides, by rinsing with a mixture consisting of fatty acid alkyl esters and methanol or ethanol, and in a subsequent second step, for removal of methanol residues, by rinsing with fatty acid alkyl esters or with gaseous nitrogen or carbon dioxide.

Abstract: When producing biodiesel from fats, oils or split fatty acids rich in steryl glycosides, the light phase rich in fatty acid alkyl esters, which is obtained from the transesterification or esterification, is washed with water in a washing column, wherein the suspension layer formed is treated by stirring. In this way, the steryl glycosides are transferred into the light phase of the wash. In a subsequent treatment of the light washer phase with water in an intensive mixer, compact steryl glycoside/fatty acid alkyl ester/water agglomerates are obtained, which can easily be separated by means of centrifugation. From the light phase of centrifugation, on-spec biodiesel is obtained upon further processing by drying and/or filtration. This process is suitable for processing fats, oils or split fatty acids with a high content of steryl glycosides and avoids the use of auxiliary substances foreign to the process. It is characterized by simplicity of equipment and a low demand for energy.

Abstract: A method for the continuous extraction of impurities, in particular saponification products, from a fatty acid alkyl ester phase produced by transesterification of vegetable or animal oils or fats with a great tendency to form saponification products, by means of an aqueous, acid glycerol phase containing a complexing agent.

Abstract: A method for reprocessing a phase substantially consisting of steryl glycoside/fatty acid alkyl ester/water agglomerates, which was formed when fatty acid alkyl ester generated by transesterification of vegetable oils or animal fats was washed with water, wherein the water content is evaporated by heating the phase and subsequently the steryl glycosides are split into their sterol and sugar fractions in the presence of an acid catalyst.

Abstract: A method for the enzymatic breakdown of phosphorus-containing constituents and glycosides, in particular steryl glycoside, from crude oil or pre-degummed oil of vegetable or animal origin, wherein for both cases the addition of the enzymes is effected in one method step.

Abstract: A method for processing solid, organic wastes obtained in the production of vegetable oil, for example the production of palm oil, chiefly consisting of pressing residues of the oil plants and/or oil seeds and oil-containing waste water by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), wherein the oil present in the waste water in emulsified form is sorbed by the solids rich in carbon, which are obtained from the solid wastes.

Abstract: Method for producing fatty alcohols includes splitting vegetable oils and animal fats under pressure into fatty acids and glycerol in counterflow to steam. The reaction product is physically separated into fatty acids and sweet water containing glycerol. The fatty acids are subjected to a distillation, and the separated fatty acid fraction is mixed together with fatty alcohol at 230 to 270° C. and atmospheric pressure. The wax esters obtained by esterification are hydrogenated to fatty alcohols by adding hydrogen on a fixed-bed catalyst, and the reaction product is separated into fatty alcohols and hydrogen. The wax esters are hydrogenated on a fixed bed of uniformly shaped catalyst bodies produced by extrusion, which consist of the main components copper and copper-chromium oxide and the secondary components zinc, aluminum, iron, silicon and alkaline earth elements, at 180 to 220° C. and 70 to 100 bar(a).

Abstract: A process for continuous production of biodiesel from vegetable oils or animal fats by transesterification with methanol or ethanol to give crude fatty acid alkyl esters, subsequent washing with water in a wash column to remove water-soluble impurities, subsequent drying by vaporization of the water content and subsequent removal of steryl glycosides by adsorption onto calcium bentonite, wherein the adsorption column(s) used is/are regenerated in a first step, for desorption of the steryl glycosides, by rinsing with a mixture consisting of fatty acid alkyl esters and methanol or ethanol, and in a subsequent second step, for removal of methanol residues, by rinsing with fatty acid alkyl esters or with gaseous nitrogen or carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A method for reprocessing a phase substantially consisting of steryl glycoside/fatty acid alkyl ester/water agglomerates, which was formed when fatty acid alkyl ester generated by transesterification of vegetable oils or animal fats was washed with water, wherein the water content is evaporated by heating the phase and subsequently the steryl glycosides are split into their sterol and sugar fractions in the presence of an acid catalyst.

Abstract: Method for producing C3H5(OH)3 and at least one of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) and fatty acid ethyl ester (FAEE) includes mixing vegetable oils and animal fats, at least one of CH3OH and C2H5OH and at least one first catalyst to transesterify a portion of triglycerides and provide a first mixture. The first mixture is separated, with a first light phase being withdrawn and fed into a second mixer where it is mixed with at least one second catalyst to transesterify a further portion of the triglycerides to provide a second mixture. The second mixture is separated, with a second light phase being withdrawn and mixed with soapless C3H5(OH)3 to provide a dispersion which is separated by density difference. A phase containing at least one of raw FAME and raw FAEE is mixed with an aqueous acid, washed with water, with the water being expelled to provide FAME and FAEE product.

Abstract: A method for the continuous extraction of impurities, in particular saponification products, from a fatty acid alkyl ester phase produced by transesterification of vegetable or animal oils or fats with a great tendency to form saponification products, by means of an aqueous, acid glycerol phase containing a complexing agent.

Abstract: A process for producing biodiesel from fats, oils or split fatty acids containing steryl glycosides, wherein the fats, oils or split fatty acids are reacted with short-chain alkanols in the presence of a catalyst by transesterification or esterification to a fatty acid alkyl ester to obtain a first product stream, includes washing the first product stream with water in a washing device, so as to form a suspension layer on a phase boundary layer between a heavy phase rich in water and the first light phase rich in the fatty acid alkyl ester. The suspension layer is treated by introducing kinetic energy. A second product stream is withdrawn from the first light phase and intensively mixed with water to obtain a third product stream. A mechanical separation is performed on the third product stream to provide a fourth product stream and a fifth product stream. The fifth product stream is withdrawn as a heavy phase that is enriched in the steryl glycosides.

Abstract: Method for producing fatty alcohols includes splitting vegetable oils and animal fats under pressure into fatty acids and glycerol in counterflow to steam. The reaction product is physically separated into fatty acids and sweet water containing glycerol. The fatty acids are subjected to a distillation, and the separated fatty acid fraction is mixed together with fatty alcohol at 230 to 270° C. and atmospheric pressure. The wax esters obtained by esterification are hydrogenated to fatty alcohols by adding hydrogen on a fixed-bed catalyst, and the reaction product is separated into fatty alcohols and hydrogen. The wax esters are hydrogenated on a fixed bed of uniformly shaped catalyst bodies produced by extrusion, which consist of the main components copper and copper-chromium oxide and the secondary components zinc, aluminum, iron, silicon and alkaline earth elements, at 180 to 220° C. and 70 to 100 bar(a).

Abstract: Method for producing C3H5(OH)3 and at least one of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) and fatty acid ethyl ester (FAEE) includes mixing vegetable oils and animal fats, at least one of CH3OH and C2H5OH and at least one first catalyst to transesterify a portion of triglycerides and provide a first mixture. The first mixture is separated, with a first light phase being withdrawn and fed into a second mixer where it is mixed with at least one second catalyst to transesterify a further portion of the triglycerides to provide a second mixture. The second mixture is separated, with a second light phase being withdrawn and mixed with soapless C2H5(OH)3 to provide a dispersion which is separated by density difference. A phase containing at least one of raw FAME and raw FAEE is mixed with an aqueous acid, washed with water, with the water being expelled to provide FAME and FAEE product.

Abstract: Process for producing tartaric acid from a raw material whose dry matter comprises at least 5 wt% potassium hydrogentartrate wherein the raw material containing potassium hydrogen tartrate (KHT) is mixed with aqueous potassium hydroxide solution in a first reaction stage, where KHT is virtually completely reacted to form dipotassium tartrate (DKT), the aqueous solution containing DKT is then mixed with added acid in a precipitation stage at a pH value of 2.0 to 5.0, to produce a suspension containing crystallized KHT; crystallized KHT is then separated from the suspension, washed with water, and there is produced a solution at least 80 wt-% saturated with KHT and then the potassium is removed, to obtain an aqueous tartaric acid product solution, from which water is then at least partly removed.

Abstract: Citric acid and/or the salts thereof are produced from a raw material containing carbohydrates. An aqueous solution of the raw material is converted into a first solution containing citric acid by means of fermentation, and from the first solution a second solution containing citric acid is obtained by means of a cell separation. The second solution is subjected to a protein precipitation at temperatures of 2 to 70.degree. C., and protein is separated by filtration. From the filtration, a third solution containing citric acid is obtained, and the same is passed through a first anion exchanger. The solution containing citric acid, which is discharged from the first anion exchanger, is passed through a second anion exchanger, which is selectively charged with citric acid. The second anion exchanger charged with citric acid is eluted with hydroxide solution or water, and there is thus obtained a fourth solution, in which citrate or citric acid is dissolved.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for enzymatically degumming vegetable oil where the vegetable oil to be degummed is adjusted to a pH from 3 to 6 and is mixed with an aqueous enzyme solution, which contains one of the enzymes phospholipase A1, A2 or B. In a degumming reactor the enzymes are permitted to act on the oil at temperatures from 20.degree. to 90.degree. C. with stirring. Before or after a separation of the degummed oil a separation promoter or a solubilizer is added at temperatures from 20.degree. to 90.degree. C. to the liquid which has been withdrawn from the degumming reactor. A substantially sludgefree solution, which contains used enymes, is thus recovered and is recycled at least in part to a location preceding the degumming rector. The content of recycled used enzymes in the total amount of the enzymes dispersed in the oil is at least 10%.