PRODUCTION OF PROPYLENE GLYCOL MONOOLEATE

摘要

PURPOSE:To obtain the titled substance, by producing a sufficiently purified oleic acid from an organic solvent solution of urea and a fatty acid mixture containing oleic acid and adding propylene oxide to the oleic acid using a tertiary amine or quaternary ammonium salt as a catalyst. CONSTITUTION:Urea and a fatty acid mixture containing oleic acid are dissolved in an organic solvent (e.g. methanol) and the solution is cooled to remove >=16C higher saturated fatty acids and higher mono-unsaturated fatty acids having larger carbon number than oleic acid from the solution as a urea adduct crystal. The residual organic solvent solution is partially saponified with a base to form an acidic salt of oleic acid. Since the salt forms an easily filterable crystal by forming an adduct with a small amount of residual urea, the removal of impurities can be carried out in high efficiency and a high-purity oleic acid can be produced. The titled colorless and odorless substance having high stability can be produced by adding propylene oxide to the high-purity oleic acid using a tertiary amine or a quaternary ammonium salt as a catalyst. USE:Emulsifier for foods and pharmaceuticals.