Abstract: Processes for obtaining fatty acids with reduced content of by-products, wherein unrefined fats or oils are subjected to steam stripping in a counter-current column to produce a bottom fraction of de-acidified fats or oils, a first distillate consisting mainly of fatty acids and glycerides, and a second distillate comprising fatty acids and essentially all unwanted ketones, aldehydes and phenols, and the bottom fraction containing the de-acidified fats or oils is combined with the first distillate containing fatty acids and glycerides.

Abstract: Described is a process for simultaneously purifying fatty alcohols and obtaining a fraction of free fatty acids, wherein: (a) crude fatty alcohols comprising up to 70% b.w. alkyl esters and/or wax esters are treated with alkaline bases in an amount sufficient to essentially convert said esters into alkaline soaps, (b) said alkaline soaps are separated from said fatty alcohols by extraction to produce a purified fraction of fatty alcohols and an aqueous soap phase, and (c) said soap phase is treated with strong mineral acids in order to release the fatty acids from the soaps.

Abstract: Described are processes for obtaining fatty acids with reduced content of by-products, wherein: (a) unrefined fats or oils are subjected to steam stripping in a counter-current column to produce (i) a bottom fraction of de-acidified fats or oils, (ii) a first distillate consisting mainly of fatty acids and glycerides, and (iii) a second distillate comprising fatty acids and essentially all unwanted ketones, aldehydes and phenols; and (b) said bottom fraction (i) containing the de-acidified fats or oils and said first distillate (ii) containing fatty acids and glycerides are combined.

Abstract: Described is a process for obtaining fatty acid C1-C4 alkyl esters from unrefined fats and oils, wherein: (a) unrefined fats or oils having an acid value of from 1 to 20 are treated with hot steam in a counter-current column to provide a first fraction of free fatty acids and low boiling impurities and a second fraction of de-acidified and de-watered fats or oils; (b) said first fraction is subjected to esterification with lower C1-C4 alcohols to provide a third fraction of fatty acid C1-C4 alkyl esters; (c) said second and said third fraction are combined and subjected to a low pressure transesterification to provide an intermediate fraction of fatty acid C1-C4 alkyl esters, C1-C4 alcohols and glycerol; and (d) said intermediate is subjected to a separation process to remove C1-C4 alcohols and the glycerol to provide a second fraction of C1-C4 alkyl esters.

Abstract: Described is a process for simultaneously purifying fatty alcohols and obtaining a fraction of free fatty acids, wherein: (a) crude fatty alcohols comprising up to 70% b.w. alkyl esters and/or wax esters are treated with alkaline bases in an amount sufficient to essentially convert said esters into alkaline soaps, (b) said alkaline soaps are separated from said fatty alcohols by extraction to produce a purified fraction of fatty alcohols and an aqueous soap phase, and (c) said soap phase is treated with strong mineral acids in order to release the fatty acids from the soaps.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optimized process for conditioning a stream of superheated steam laden with steam-volatile organic components by condensation of the steam phase with recovery of the heat of condensation and at least partial separation of the steam-volatile organic components from the water-based condensate. The process operates with a first heat exchange stage in which the continuously introduced vapor stream is combined with a circulated and cooled liquid stream of condensed vapors. In a following second energy transfer stage, heat is indirectly removed from the liquid stream thus heated. A sidestream is removed from the liquid circuit of the condensed vapors and subjected to separation in a membrane process while the rest of the liquid stream is returned to the first stage.