Claims
- 1. A method for separating a sterol or sterol ester from crude tall oil comprising fractionating the crude tall oil into a residue fraction and a volatile fraction, wherein the temperature of the residue fraction during the fractionation does not exceed about 290° C., and wherein the residue fraction includes the sterol or sterol ester.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature of the residue fraction is between about 250° C. and about 270° C.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein fractionation is carried out in a thin film evaporator at a temperature below about 250° C.
- 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature of the crude tall oil fractionation feed is between about 300° C. and 310° C.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the time of separating the residue fraction from the volatile fraction does not exceed about one hour, after which the residue fraction is allowed to cool.
- 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the residue fraction comprises at least about 15% rosin acids.
- 7. The method of claim 1, wherein more than 50% of the sterols included in the crude tall oil is recovered.
- 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising esterification of the sterols in the crude tall oil prior to or during fractionation.
- 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the degree of sterols esterification is greater than 50%.
- 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising substantially separating the sterols from the non-sterol components of the residue fraction.
- 11. The method of claim 1, further comprising saponifying the residue fraction to recover free sterols.
- 12. The method of claim 11, wherein saponification is carried out by combining the residue fraction with a mixture of sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide.
- 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the saponified residue fraction is subject to evaporation to provide an evaporated fraction containing sterols.
- 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the saponified residue fraction is extracted with a solvent to provide an extract containing sterols.
- 15. A residue fraction comprising at least about 15% rosin acids.
- 16. A method for separating unsaponifiable material from a tall oil stream comprising saponifying the stream with a mixture of sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide to form sodium and potassium salts of fatty acids, rosin acids, or both, evaporating the unsaponifiable material, and acidulating the unevaporated sodium and potassium salts.
- 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the tall oil stream is a tall oil pitch stream.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 09/143,959, filed Aug. 31, 1998.
Divisions (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09618121 |
Jul 2000 |
US |
Child |
09782869 |
Feb 2001 |
US |
Parent |
09153728 |
Sep 1998 |
US |
Child |
09618121 |
Jul 2000 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09143959 |
Aug 1998 |
US |
Child |
09153728 |
Sep 1998 |
US |