POLYGLYCEROL ESTER SYNTHESIS

摘要

Polyols, in particular polyglycerol, are esterified using a fatty acid at atmospheric pressure or under slight vacuum. The reaction is carried out under an inert atmosphere at high temperatures (220.degree.C-260.degree.C) using an alkaline catalyst. When the free fatty acid level decreases to less than 1%, the reaction mixture is stripped of substantially all the water by reducing the pressure within the vessel. The alkaline mixture is then neutralized using a mild acid, e.g. phosphoric acid, while maintaining the high temperature and reduced pressure. The mixture is rapidly cooled to below 177.degree.C after the neutralization step. The polyglycerol or polyol esters prepared via this process are of consistently high quality and are not subject to compositional changes during the process or on storage.