Abstract: A process for recovering, purifying and enriching hydroxy fatty acids from source oils. The process comprises the steps of: (a) methylating the source oil to form therein hydroxy fatty acid methyl esters and non-hydroxy fatty acid methyl esters; (b) separating the hydroxy fatty acid methyl esters from the non-hydroxy fatty acid methyl esters with an organic solvent mixture comprising a pentane/hexane and a short-chain alcohol; and (c) separately recovering the hydroxy fatty acid methyl esters and the non-hydroxy fatty acid methyl esters from the organic solvent mixture. Hydroxy fatty acids that can be recovered, purified and enriched with the process include ricinoleic acid, densipolic acid, lesquerolic acid, and auricolic acid. The non-hydroxy fatty acid methyl esters can be recovered, purified and further processed into biodiesel fuels and/or lubricants.

Abstract: A process for recovering, purifying and enriching hydroxy fatty acids from source oils. The process source oil comprises the steps of: (a) methylating the source oil to form therein hydroxy fatty acid methyl esters and non-hydroxy fatty acid methyl esters; (b) separating the hydroxy fatty acid methyl esters from the non-hydroxy fatty acid methyl esters with an organic solvent mixture comprising a pentane/hexane and a short-chain alcohol; and (c) separately recovering the hydroxy fatty acid methyl esters and the non-hydroxy fatty acid methyl esters from the organic solvent mixture. Hydroxy fatty acids that can be recovered, purified and enriched with the process include ricinoleic acid, densipolic acid, lesquerolic acid, and auricolic acid. The non-hydroxy fatty acid methyl esters can be recovered, purified and further processed into biodiesel fuels and/or lubricants.

Abstract: A process for producing alkyl esters useful as bio-fuels and/or lubricants. An alkyl ester product produced by the process. The process comprises a single-stage reaction for esterifying a de-watered glyceride-containing feedstock with an anhydrous short chain alcohol in the presence of a basic esterification catalyst to produce a reaction product comprising alkyl esters and a reaction by-product comprising glycerol-containing substances and the catalyst-containing alcohol. The single-stage esterification reaction is conducted within a temperature and negative-pressure controllable vessel. The alkyl ester product is separated from the re-action by-product and may be further de-watered and/or purified. The catalyst-containing alcohol may be separated from the reaction by-product, de-watered and reused. The glycerol-containing substances may be separated from the reaction by-product and further purified.

Abstract: A process for releasing and extracting phosphatides from a phosphatide-containing matrix. The process includes (i) contacting the phosphatide-containing matrix with a solvent and a metal salt to release phosphatides from the matrix and form a phosphatide enriched solvent portion and a phosphatide depleted matrix portion, (ii) separating the phosphatide enriched solvent portion from the phosphatide depleted matrix portion, and (iii) recovering the phosphatides from the phosphatide enriched solvent portion.