SEPARATING SATURATED AND UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS FOR PRODUCING COLD-TOLORANT BIODIESEL FUEL

摘要

A process for separating a blend of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids into a first fraction enriched with saturated fatty acids and a second fraction enriched with unsaturated fatty acids. The process includes the steps of (a) saponifying a blend of long chain saturated and unsaturated fatty acids to form free fatty acids, (b) complexing the free fatty acids with urea, and (c) separating the urea complexed free fatty acids into the first and second fractions. Step (a) can be skipped when separating fatty acid alkyl esters.