Provided is means of powderizing a liquid component, wherein the powderizing agent contains an oil and/or fat composition, the oil and/or fat composition contains an oil and/or fat component which contains one or more types of XXX-type triglycerides having fatty acid residues X, each with x carbon atoms, at positions 1 to 3 of glycerin, x, the number of carbon atoms, is an integer selected from 10 to 22, and the XXX-type triglyceride is contained at 50% by mass or more relative to a content of the oil and/or fat component being 100% by mass; or the powderizing agent, wherein the oil and/or fat composition is a powder oil and/or fat composition having a loose bulk density of 0.05 to 0.6 g/cm.sup.3, the oil and/or fat component contains a β-type oil and/or fat, and a particle of the powder oil and/or fat composition has a plate shape.

Provided is means of powderizing a liquid component, wherein the powderizing agent contains an oil and/or fat composition, the oil and/or fat composition contains an oil and/or fat component which contains one or more types of XXX-type triglycerides having fatty acid residues X, each with x carbon atoms, at positions 1 to 3 of glycerin, x, the number of carbon atoms, is an integer selected from 10 to 22, and the XXX-type triglyceride is contained at 50% by mass or more relative to a content of the oil and/or fat component being 100% by mass; or the powderizing agent, wherein the oil and/or fat composition is a powder oil and/or fat composition having a loose bulk density of 0.05 to 0.6 g/cm.sup.3, the oil and/or fat component contains a β-type oil and/or fat, and a particle of the powder oil and/or fat composition has a plate shape.

Aspects of the present invention provide methods of drying lecithin in a batch reaction, comprising the steps of obtaining lecithin-containing material (derived from a crude refining stream) comprising 15-50% water, 10-30% acetone insoluble matter, and 10-20% free fatty acid; adding a fatty acid source (also derived from a crude refining stream) to the lecithin-containing material composition to obtain a lecithin/fatty acid reaction mixture; and blowing dry gas through the gum/fatty acid reaction miture to obtain a resultant dried lecithin fatty acid blend having a water content of less than 2%. The resultant dried lecithin fatty acid blend may be used in asphalt or oil field applications.

Provided is means of thickening a liquid component, wherein the thickener contains an oil and/or fat composition, the oil and/or fat composition contains an oil and/or fat component containing one or more types of XXX-type triglycerides having fatty acid residues X, each with x carbon atoms, at positions 1 to 3 of glycerin, x, the number of carbon atoms, is an integer selected from 10 to 22, and the XXX-type triglyceride is contained at 50% by mass or more relative to a content of the oil and/or fat component being 100% by mass; or the thickener, wherein the oil and/or fat composition is a powder oil and/or fat composition having a loose bulk density of 0.05 to 0.6 g/cm.sup.3, the oil and/or fat component contains a 3-type oil and/or fat, and a particle of the powder oil and/or fat composition has a plate shape.

Provided is means of thickening a liquid component, wherein the thickener contains an oil and/or fat composition, the oil and/or fat composition contains an oil and/or fat component containing one or more types of XXX-type triglycerides having fatty acid residues X, each with x carbon atoms, at positions 1 to 3 of glycerin, x, the number of carbon atoms, is an integer selected from 10 to 22, and the XXX-type triglyceride is contained at 50% by mass or more relative to a content of the oil and/or fat component being 100% by mass; or the thickener, wherein the oil and/or fat composition is a powder oil and/or fat composition having a loose bulk density of 0.05 to 0.6 g/cm.sup.3, the oil and/or fat component contains a 3-type oil and/or fat, and a particle of the powder oil and/or fat composition has a plate shape.

Process for preparing an edible fat slurry comprising 60-98% by weight (on the total slurry of oil and fat powder) of an edible oil phase and 2-40% by weight (on the total slurry of oil and fat powder) of fat powder, wherein the fat powder is sprayed directly a mixing vessel to be combined with oil.

Process for preparing an edible fat slurry comprising 60-98% by weight (on the total slurry of oil and fat powder) of an edible oil phase and 2-40% by weight (on the total slurry of oil and fat powder) of fat powder, wherein the fat powder is sprayed directly a mixing vessel to be combined with oil.

A process for preparing a slurry of edible oil and fat powder, and to a process of preparing an edible fat-continuous spread out of such. The process for preparing said slurry has at least two different regimes of reduced pressure.

A process for preparing a slurry of edible oil and fat powder, and to a process of preparing an edible fat-continuous spread out of such. The process for preparing said slurry has at least two different regimes of reduced pressure.

Aspects of the present invention provide methods of drying lecithin in a batch reaction, comprising the steps of obtaining lecithin-containing material (derived from a crude refining stream) comprising 15-50% water, 10-30% acetone insoluble matter, and 10-20% free fatty acid; adding a fatty acid source (also derived from a crude refining stream) to the lecithin-containing material composition to obtain a lecithin/fatty acid reaction mixture; and blowing dry gas through the gum/fatty acid reaction mixture to obtain a resultant dried lecithin fatty acid blend having a water content of less than 2%. The resultant dried lecithin fatty acid blend may be used in asphalt or oil field applications.