The present disclosure is related to an apparatus and method for purification of biological feedstock, such as reducing or removing nitrogen containing compounds therein. The method can include subjecting the feedstock to a first separation step for obtaining a first fraction containing free fatty acids and nitrogen containing compounds, and collecting the residue containing acylglycerols. The first fraction is reacted with glycerol to obtain acylglycerols from the free fatty acid therein. This fraction is subjected to a second separation step for obtaining a second fraction containing nitrogen containing compounds, which is discharged as waste-product. The remains from the second separation contain formed acylglycerols and are collected.

Methods for refining crude tobacco seed oils and the refined tobacco seed oils produced by such methods are provided herein. In particular, methods for reducing the amount of free fatty acids in the crude oil, for modifying the color of the crude oil, and for reducing any undesirable taste/odor associated with the crude oil are provided. The present invention further relates to the incorporation and use of such refined oil within various products.

The present invention relates to processes for extracting lipid from vegetative plant parts such as leaves, stems, roots and tubers, and for producing industrial products such as hydrocarbon products from the lipids. Preferred industrial products include alkyl esters which may be blended with petroleum based fuels.

The present invention relates to deacidification of glyceride oils. The present invention provides a process for removing free fatty acids from glyceride oil, preferably palm oil, containing free fatty acids, said process comprising the steps of: (i) contacting the glyceride oil containing free fatty acids with the basic ionic liquid; wherein the basic ionic liquid has a basic anion selected from hydroxide, alkoxide, alkylcarbonate, hydrogen carbonate, serinate, prolinate, histidinate, threoninate, valinate, asparaginate, taurinate and lysinate; and a cation selected from: [N(R.sup.a)(R.sup.b)(R.sup.c)(R.sup.d)].sup.+, wherein: R.sup.a, R.sup.b, R.sup.c and R.sup.d are each independently selected from hydrogen, a C.sub.1 to C.sub.8, straight chain or branched alkyl group or a C.sub.3 to C.sub.6 cycloalkyl group, wherein said alkyl or cycloalkyl groups are unsubstituted or may be substituted by one to three groups selected from: C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.2 to C.sub.8 alkoxyalkoxy, C.sub.3 to C.sub.6 cycloalkyl, OH, SH, CO.sub.2(C.sub.1 to C.sub.6)alkyl, OC(O)(C.sub.1 to C.sub.6)alkyl, or any two of R.sup.a, R.sup.b, R.sup.c and R.sup.d combine to form an alkylene chain (CH.sub.2).sub.q wherein q is from 3 to 6; and (ii) obtaining a treated glyceride oil having a reduced content of free fatty acid compared to the glyceride oil feed of step (i).

A process involves sequentially treating a plurality of lipid feedstocks comprising a set of lipid feedstocks each having a chloride content of at least about 2 ppm with a metal oxide catalyst on an oxide support under first treating conditions to produce respective treated streams of the set of lipid feedstocks having a chloride content less than 1 ppm until a given one of the respective treated streams has a chloride content greater than 1 ppm and the metal oxide catalyst is converted to a spent metal oxide catalyst, converting the spent metal oxide catalyst to a rejuvenated metal oxide catalyst, and treating one or more additional lipid feedstocks each having a chloride content of at least about 2 ppm with the rejuvenated metal oxide catalyst under second treating conditions to produce one or more respective treated streams each having a chloride content less than 1 ppm.

A process involves sequentially treating a plurality of lipid feedstocks comprising a set of lipid feedstocks each having a chloride content of at least about 2 ppm with a metal oxide catalyst on an oxide support under first treating conditions to produce respective treated streams of the set of lipid feedstocks having a chloride content less than 1 ppm until a given one of the respective treated streams has a chloride content greater than 1 ppm and the metal oxide catalyst is converted to a spent metal oxide catalyst, converting the spent metal oxide catalyst to a rejuvenated metal oxide catalyst, and treating one or more additional lipid feedstocks each having a chloride content of at least about 2 ppm with the rejuvenated metal oxide catalyst under second treating conditions to produce one or more respective treated streams each having a chloride content less than 1 ppm.

Provided herein are systems and methods for the facile extraction and purification of oils from plant material, including cannabis and hemp. The systems and methods herein are versatile, and may utilize a wide range of solvents to extract oils from a variety of plant-based material. Further, the provided systems and methods are closed loop, reducing the loss solvent and decreasing the risk of safety concerns such as human exposure to solvent chemicals or explosion of volatiles. In some embodiments, the systems and methods remove impurities from the extracted oils, for example waxes or other precipitates, and provide a higher purity and higher quality extract.

Provided herein are systems and methods for the facile extraction and purification of oils from plant material, including cannabis and hemp. The systems and methods herein are versatile, and may utilize a wide range of solvents to extract oils from a variety of plant-based material. Further, the provided systems and methods are closed loop, reducing the loss solvent and decreasing the risk of safety concerns such as human exposure to solvent chemicals or explosion of volatiles. In some embodiments, the systems and methods remove impurities from the extracted oils, for example waxes or other precipitates, and provide a higher purity and higher quality extract.

Methods of using silica-zirconia catalysts in processes to reduce an amount of glycidol, glycidyl ester(s), or both glycidol and glycidyl ester(s) from a triglyceride-containing composition, such as edible oils, are disclosed. Silica-zirconia catalysts and methods of making silica-zirconia catalysts are also disclosed.

Methods of using silica-zirconia catalysts in processes to reduce an amount of glycidol, glycidyl ester(s), or both glycidol and glycidyl ester(s) from a triglyceride-containing composition, such as edible oils, are disclosed. Silica-zirconia catalysts and methods of making silica-zirconia catalysts are also disclosed.