Method for preparing a lower alkyl ester product from vegetable oil

摘要

Comminuted soybeans are heated to high temperatures to condition the soybean oil contained therein. The soybean oil is extracted and filtered to remove solid fines, and then degummed and bleached. The prepared oil is introduced into a stirred reactor where lower aliphatic monohydric alcohol and an alkaline catalyst is introduced. Alcoholysis proceeds to virtual completion. A lower alkyl alcohol ester phase is separated out and washed with water to remove traces of unreacted alcohol and the alkaline catalyst.