The invention relates to a lubricity additive for fuel, particularly for diesel fuel, directly obtained from the acidification of a soapstock produced by a method for refining at least one vegetable and/or animal oil. The lubricity additive according to the invention is more specifically used for fuels that have a low sulfur content, for example, lower than 500 ppm (by weight).

Methods for preparing and purifying 2-monoacylglyceride compounds are disclosed. In one method, an unsaturated triglyceride is reacted with water, a C.sub.1-C.sub.8 alcohol, or a mixture thereof in the presence of a lipase to produce a mixture comprising a 1,3-dihydroxy-2-monoacylglyceride and fatty esters or acids. Reaction of the 1,3-dihydroxy-2-monoacylglyceride with an aldehyde or ketone gives a mixture comprising a 2-monoacylglyceride acetal or ketal. Fatty esters or acids are removed from the mixture as an overhead product by distillation or wiped-film evaporation to isolate a purified 2-monoacylglyceride acetal or ketal. The inventive methods provide a 2-monoacylglyceride protected at the 1- and 3-positions such that the acyl unit remains at the 2-position. The products are enriched in unsaturated fatty acid content when compared with the unsaturated fatty acid content of the original unsaturated triglyceride. Each method utilizes a practical purification scheme that avoids the scale-up or toxicity issues of commonly employed purification strategies.

A method for preparing high-content conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) through purification of vegetable oil includes alcoholysis, purification and isomerization of vegetable oil. Alcoholysis is for preparing corresponding methyl ester or ethyl ester with glyceride; purification of methyl ester or ethyl ester is for obtaining methyl linoleate or ethyl linoleate of content over 85% through silver-based silica gel column chromatography; high-content CLA is obtained after alkali-catalyzed conjugation of methyl linoleate or ethyl linoleate, and CLA products are prepared as needed. This invention changes the status quo of preparing high-content CLA with safflower oil alone, expands sources of CLA, and develops an efficient technology for separation and purification of linoleic acid. The CLA obtained is of high purity and meets applications in pharmaceutical, health care products and other industries.

A method of producing a composition comprising a high concentration of very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLCPUFAs) from natural oils such as fish oil, squid oil, algal oil and krill oil. In addition, a composition comprising a high concentration of very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids isolated from such natural sources; as well as to a process for isolating separate fractions of very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids having identical chain lengths but different degrees of unsaturation from such highly concentrated compositions is disclosed.

The present invention relates to a method for treating vegetable oils and/or animal fats comprising a vacuum steam stripping operation, condensing the neutral oils from vapour phase at an elevated temperature, retaining and sending back to the stripping column, allowing steam, volatile fatty acids, micronutrients together with other volatiles to pass to a cold condensation zone, and condensing the volatile fatty acids, micronutrients together with other volatiles in the cold condensation zone, producing a condensate and a stream of steam, non-condensable gases along with traces of fatty acids and other lighter hydrocarbons vapours. The invention may include a distillation step, either between the high and low temperature condensation zones or following the cold condensation zone.

The present invention relates to a method for treating vegetable oils and/or animal fats comprising a vacuum steam stripping operation, condensing the neutral oils from vapour phase at an elevated temperature, retaining and sending back to the stripping column, allowing steam, volatile fatty acids, micronutrients together with other volatiles to pass to a cold condensation zone, and condensing the volatile fatty acids, micronutrients together with other volatiles in the cold condensation zone, producing a condensate and a stream of steam, non-condensable gases along with traces of fatty acids and other lighter hydrocarbons vapours. The invention may include a distillation step, either between the high and low temperature condensation zones or following the cold condensation zone.

One or more techniques are disclosed for a process of preparing stearic acid from animal and/or plant sources may comprise: 1) deodorizing and distilling a fat; 2) concentrating fatty acids of the fat; and 3) hydrogenating the fatty acid to provide stearic acid. The process may include the use of co-products from plant and/or animal sources. The process may also include distilling the stearic acid to provide palmitic acid and/or fully hydrogenated fatty acid. Tallow fatty acid, vegetable fatty acid, stearic acid, and palmitic acid prepared from the process described are also disclosed.

One or more techniques are disclosed for a process of preparing stearic acid from animal and/or plant sources may comprise: 1) deodorizing and distilling a fat; 2) concentrating fatty acids of the fat; and 3) hydrogenating the fatty acid to provide stearic acid. The process may include the use of co-products from plant and/or animal sources. The process may also include distilling the stearic acid to provide palmitic acid and/or fully hydrogenated fatty acid. Tallow fatty acid, vegetable fatty acid, stearic acid, and palmitic acid prepared from the process described are also disclosed.

The instant invention describes a method and system for producing biodiesel which increases energy efficiency by reducing the overall amount of energy associated with producing the biodiesel. Unlike most systems which use a batch procedure, the instant method and system utilize a continuous flow sonification procedure which provides for reactions to take place in tubes as the biodiesel moves along through the process. The continuous flow sonification procedure is performed in two main stages, utilizing the steps of acid esterification, transesterification, and a waterless washing.

The instant invention describes a method and system for producing biodiesel which increases energy efficiency by reducing the overall amount of energy associated with producing the biodiesel. Unlike most systems which use a batch procedure, the instant method and system utilize a continuous flow sonification procedure which provides for reactions to take place in tubes as the biodiesel moves along through the process. The continuous flow sonification procedure is performed in two main stages, utilizing the steps of acid esterification, transesterification, and a waterless washing.