Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing high purity monoglycerides from edible oils/fats and fatty acids through glycerolysis, in particular but not exclusively to the production of monoglycerides from palm oil and palm oil products. This is achieved by providing a process for the production of monoglycerides of fatty acids or fats and oils, comprising the steps of reacting fatty acids or fats and oils with excess glycerol in the presence of an acidic or alkaline catalyst; substantially separating the crude reaction product from the other reaction components; removing unwanted reaction components from the crude reaction product by washing; drying the reaction product.

Abstract: A lubricity additive for fuels with sulphur content of not more than 0.05 wt % is described herein. The lubricity additive comprises a polyol ester or a mixture of polyol esters derived from C8-C18 saturated and/or unsaturated fatty acids. The polyol esters is produced by: i) esterification of a C8-C18 saturated or unsaturated fatty acids, or a mixture thereof, with a polyhydric alcohol; ii) transesterification of an oil or a mixture of oils, with fatty acid composition comprising C8-C18 saturated and/or unsaturated fatty acids, with a polyhydric alcohol. The preferred fatty acids are unsaturated C18 fatty acids, more particularly, oleic acid whereas the preferred polyhydric alcohol is neopolyol, more particularly, trimethylol propane and its isomers. A fuel composition comprising a major amount of fuel with sulphur content of not more than 0.05 wt % and a minor amount of the lubricity additive is also described herein. The amount of the lubricity additive is not more than 0.1 wt %.

Abstract: A cost effective and less energy demanding method of producing ester oils or lubricant base oils, particularly fatty monoesters and fatty polyol esters, by esterifying palm fatty acid, which is abundant from the fat splitting process, with a monohydric alcohol or polyhydric alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst at elevated temperature wherein an azeotroping agent, particularly toluene, is used to facilitate continuous removal by distillation, of water formed as a by-product during the esterification reaction. The esterification reaction is completed within 5 hours and palm fatty esters as produced with the current method exhibit comparable lubricity and biodegradability.