Fatty acids

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Description

In a soapstock splitting plant, the fatty acid soaps react with sulphuric acid to form fatty acids back again. The process can either be continuous or discontinuous. The reaction medium is heated up to 70-100ºC in order to increase the speed of the reaction and to improve the separation of the upper oil phase from the lower aqueous phase. Between the aqueous phase and the fatty acids, an intermediate layer of phosphatides can be formed, depending on the amount of phosphatides still present in the crude oil.

Block diagram of the physical and chemical refining


Refining.jpg
Source: Edible Oil Processing,R.S.; The ACVS Lipid Library

Valorisation techniques

Acid oil is one of the main raw materials for the animal feed industry for its fatty acid component and it is a high feed ingredient energy source. Other alternatives are as raw material for industry (soaps and detergents, cosmetics and paints) or biogas production.


References


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