GB706562A - Method of reconstructing glyceride oils - Google Patents

Abstract

Glyceride oils of the coconut oil group are reconstructed by heating them with free fatty acids containing only 12 to 18 carbon atoms, under such conditions that these added fatty acids displace those fatty acids of the glyceride which contain 6 to 10 carbon atoms, and the vaporized fatty acids are fractionated so as to remove the displaced fatty acids and return the others to the reaction zone. The free fatty acids added may be obtained by partial hydrolysis of the oil to be reconstructed, by heating at reduced pressure and under reflux so that only the fatty acids of 6 to 10 carbon atoms are removed and under conditions such that reconstruction does not take place. The reconstruction is then carried out at an increased temperature and with further reduction of pressure. A zinc oxide or boric acid catalyst may be used for the reconstruction, and steam may be passed through the mixture during the reaction to assist in the vaporization of the fatty acids. The reconstructed glyceride may be purified by a final step of steam distillation. In an example, 40,000 parts of coconut oil are mixed with 14,400 parts of palm oil fatty acids and 180 parts of boric acid, and heated under vacuum with continual agitation at about 260 DEG C. The product was steam distilled to reduce the free fatty acid number to 4. Specifications 571,209 and 700,376 are referred to.