Abstract: A feed stream comprising fatty acids with chain lengths C6 to C20 is distilled in a first column to provide a C6-C8 top cut, a C8-C10 middle cut and a C12+ bottom cut, said C12+ bottom cut being distilled in a second column to provide a C12-C14 top cut and a C16+ bottom cut, said C16+ bottom cut being distilled in a third column to provide a C16-C18 top cut and a C18+ bottom cut.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the extraction of all unsaponifiable fraction contained in a vegetable oil, an oil originating from a micro-organism or a vegetable butter or in a co-product from the vegetable oil refining industry, such as deodorization discharge. The method includes at least: A) a step comprising the transformation of the aforementioned oils, butter or co-product from the vegetable oil refining industry or oils originating from micro-organisms into a hydro-alcoholic solution by means of, in particular, a step selected from saponification and esterification steps; B) a step comprising the extraction of the hydro-alcoholic solution in which the fatty fraction is separated from the unsaponifiable fraction by means of liquid/liquid extraction; and C) an optional step comprising the purification of the unsaponifiable fraction, selected from the group containing crystallization and liquid/liquid extraction steps.

Abstract: The present invention is a stable, nanometer scale micro-tubular aggregated material of an asymmetric double-headed lipid represented by the general formula R—NHCO—(CH2)n—COOH??(I) (in the formula, R represents an aldopyranose radical from which the terminal reducing hydroxyl group is excluded and n is from six to twenty). The external diameter of the micro-tubular aggregated material is 10-300 nm, and the length is 0.3-10 ?m. The micro-tubular aggregated material can be manufactured by dispersing the asymmetric double-headed lipid described above in water at pH of two to eight, next heating to 80-100° C. to dissolve it and then gradually cooling the aqueous solution obtained.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for extracting usaponifiable matters from a vegetable oil comprising at least a saponification step whereby the oil is transformed into a hydro alcoholic solution, a step for extracting the hydro alcoholic solution with a organic solvent such as chloro-1-butane, preferably the treated vegetable oil is avocado or soya oil.

Abstract: Described is a process for removing glycerol and/or diglycerol from glycerides and glyceride mixtures by extraction, which process is characterized in that the glyceride or glyceride mixture is dissolved in organic compounds which preferably contain carbonyl and hydroxyl groups, if desired in combination with hydrocarbons, and that glycerol is extracted from the resulting solution with the aid of water. Thereby glycerol concentrations in the material to be purified of 0.1 weight % or lower may be obtained in a simple manner.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is disclosed for separation of fatty acid alkyl esters, carotenoids and tocotrienols from oil. Fatty acids in a vegetable oil are subjected to alcoholic esterification to form an ester-rich layer including fatty acid alkyl esters, carotenoids and tocotrienols. The ester-rich layer is exposed to solvolytic micellization to form a carotenoid-rich layer. The ester-rich layer is separated from the carotenoid-rich layer. The carotenoids in the carotenoid-rich layer are concentrated and can be adsorptively separated from the carotenoid-rich layer. Fatty acid alkyl esters are separated from the ester-rich layer to form a tocotrienol-rich layer. Individual tocotrienols in the tocotrienol-rich layer are adsorptively separated and concentrated.