Process for autocatalytic esterification of fatty acids

摘要

The present invention relates to a process for isolation of micronutrients from deodorizer distillate comprising free fatty acids, the process comprises the following steps: (i) treating the deodorizer distillate in an esterification step with glycerol, which esterification step is autocatalyzed, producing a feedstock of acyl glycerides, and discharging excess of glycerol and produced water; (ii) transferring the feedstock of acyl glycerides having a water content less than 1500 ppm and a free fatty acid content less than 3 wt % to a transesterification step and treating the feedstock of acyl glycerides with methanol to produce a crude biodiesel product; and (iii) refining the crude biodiesel product in a distillation step, and separating the crude biodiesel product into three fractions 1) fatty acid methyl esters, 2) micronutrient rich product comprising tocopherol, and 3) light hydrocarbons.

主权项

1. A process for isolation of micronutrients from a deodorizer distillate comprising free fatty acids, wherein the deodorizer distillate is pre-heated to a temperature within a range from about 50 to about 90° C. before entering esterification step (i), the process comprising:
(i) treating the deodorizer distillate in an esterification step with glycerol, which esterification step is autocatalysed, producing a feedstock of acyl glycerides, and discharging excess of glycerol and produced water; (ii) transferring the feedstock of acyl glycerides having a water content less than 1500 ppm and a free fatty acid content less than 3 wt % to a transesterification step and treating the feedstock of acyl glycerides with methanol to produce a crude biodiesel product,
wherein the transesterification is performed with an alkaline catalyst; and (iii) refining the crude biodiesel product in a distillation step, and separating the crude biodiesel product into fractions comprising 1) a fraction comprising fatty acid methyl esters, 2) a fraction comprising micronutrient rich product comprising tocopherol, and 3) a fraction comprising light hydrocarbons.