Synthesis of higher polyol fatty acid polyesters using high soap:polyol ratios
AssigneeThe Proctor & Gamble Company
InventorRobert A. Volpenhein
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Abstract
An improved solvent-free transesterification process for producing higher polyol fatty acid polyesters is disclosed. In this process a mixture of a polyol, a fatty acid methyl, 2-methoxy ethyl or benzyl ester, an alkali metal fatty acid soap, and a basic catalyst, having a molar ratio of soap:polyol of from about 0.6:1 to about 1:1, preferably from about 0.75:1 to about 1:1, is heated to form a homogeneous melt. To this melt is subsequently added excess fatty acid methyl, 2-methoxy ethyl or benzyl ester, yielding the desired polyol fatty acid polyesters.
Claims18
In a solvent-free transesterification process for synthesizing higher polyol fatty acid polyesters comprising the steps of:
- (1) heating a mixture of (a) a polyol selected from a group consisting of monosaccharides, disaccharides and sugar alcohols, (b) a fatty acid ester selected from the group consisting of methyl esters, 2-methoxy ethyl esters, benzyl esters, and mixtures thereof, (c) an alkali metal fatty acid soap, and (d) a basic catalyst, to a temperature of from about 110.degree. C. to about 180.degree. C. at a pressure of from about 0.1 mm to about 760 mm of mercury to form a homogeneous melt;
- and
- (2) subsequently adding to the reaction product of step (1) excess fatty acid ester selected from the group consisting of methyl esters, 2-methoxy ethyl esters, benzyl esters, and mixtures thereof;
- the improvement wherein the molar ratio of soap:polyol in step (1) is from about 0.6:1 to about 1:1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.