Flow process for conjugating unconjugated unsaturation of fatty acids

A flow process for conjugating unconjugated unsaturation of fatty acids in feedstock containing same and controlling the cis/trans to trans/trans ratio of the resulting conjugated fatty acid product in the presence of requisite aqueous alkali metal hydroxide for providing a minor proportion of free alkali in the resulting reaction mixture, and the dissolution of the resulting alkali metal soap in the aqueous phase of said reaction mixture which comprises:

• continuously charging said feedstock, said alkali metal hydroxide, and water into a flow reaction zone maintained under at least autogenous pressure;
• therein heating the resulting reaction mixture to a temperature of about 200.degree. to 370.degree. C.;
• continuously withdrawing from said zone the crude product stream when the unconjugated fatty acid value therein has been reduced to practically zero and the cis/trans to trans/trans fatty acid ratio of said crude product stream is between about 50:1 and 0.1:1;
• acidulating the crude product stream, thereby springing crude fatty acid product;
• and
• recovering said crude fatty acid product.