초록 ▼

A method for esterification of free fatty acids in triglycerides, with C1-C8 aliphatic alcohols. The method uses an acidic ion exchange resin as a catalyst. The catalyst is contacted with a reaction mixture containing a triglyceride having at least 1% free fatty acids and a C1-C8 aliphatic alcohol u

A method for esterification of free fatty acids in triglycerides, with C1-C8 aliphatic alcohols. The method uses an acidic ion exchange resin as a catalyst. The catalyst is contacted with a reaction mixture containing a triglyceride having at least 1% free fatty acids and a C1-C8 aliphatic alcohol under conditions suitable for esterification.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A method for esterification of free fatty acids in triglycerides with C1-C4 aliphatic alcohols; said method comprising steps of: (a) providing a catalyst comprising a gel-type acidic ion exchange resin having 0.5% to 2.5% crosslinker and sulfonic acid functionality and

The invention claimed is: 1. A method for esterification of free fatty acids in triglycerides with C1-C4 aliphatic alcohols; said method comprising steps of: (a) providing a catalyst comprising a gel-type acidic ion exchange resin having 0.5% to 2.5% crosslinker and sulfonic acid functionality and which comprises polymerized units of styrene and a crosslinker; and (b) contacting said catalyst with a reaction mixture comprising: (i) a triglyceride having at least 1% free fatty acids; and (ii) a C1-C4 aliphatic alcohol in a temperature range from 40° C. to 110° C. 2. The method of claim 1 in which the C1-C4 aliphatic alcohol is selected from the group consisting of methanol and ethanol and the alcohol is present in an amount of at least 2 equivalents based on free fatty acid. 3. The method of claim 2 in which the resin has 1% to 2.5% crosslinker. 4. The method of claim 3 in which the triglyceride has 1% to 80% free fatty acids. 5. The method of claim 4 in which the resin has an average particle size from 100 μm to 2000 μm. 6. The method of claim 5 in which the reaction mixture is heated in a batch reactor in a temperature range from 40° C. to 90° C. for at least 0.5 hours. 7. The method of claim 5 in which the reaction mixture is in contact with catalyst in a continuous reactor in a temperature range from 40° C. to 90° C. for at least 15 minutes. 8. The method of claim 3 in which the triglyceride has 1% to 20% free fatty acids. 9. The method of claim 8 in which the aliphatic alcohol is methanol. 10. The method of claim 9 in which the reaction mixture is heated in a batch reactor in a temperature range from 40° C. to 90° C. for at least 0.5 hours. 11. The method of claim 9 in which the reaction mixture is heated in a continuous reactor in a temperature range from 40° C. to 90° C. and the reaction mixture is in contact with the catalyst for at least 0.5 hours. 12. The method of claim 3 in which the triglyceride has from 2% to 10% free fatty acids. 13. The method of claim 12 in which the aliphatic alcohol is methanol.