Soapstock hydrolysis and acidulation by acidogenic bacteria
AssigneeFeed Energy Company
InventorMartin J. T. Reaney
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Abstract
Methods for acidification of soapstock using acids produced by fermentation with acidogenic bacteria and recovery of acidulated fatty acids are disclosed. Soapstock is advantageously acidified by fermentation of endogenous soapstock nutrients and added nutrients under controlled conditions using acidogenic bacteria. The nutrients may include carbohydrate, nitrogen, phosphorous, sulfur from defined or undefined sources. The acidification reaction avoids the use of strong acids for the treatment of soapstock, minimizes wastewater contamination with salts and produces potentially valuable by-products including lactic acid, acetic acid, glyceric acid and nutrient rich microorganisms.
Claims23
A method for producing a fatty acid rich oil and organic acids from a byproduct obtained from vegetable oil refining and, said byproduct being selected from a group consisting of soapstocks, glycerides, phospholipids and mixtures thereof, the method comprising the steps of:
- A. initially pasteurizing the byproduct to reduce existing bacteria in the byproduct;
- B. thereafter cooling the byproduct to a temperature for supporting growth of an acidogenic bacteria;
- C. subsequently fermenting the byproduct with an acidogenic bacterial culture and nutrients for promoting acid production so as to produce organic acid to acidify the byproduct and cause separation of a fatty acid rich oil and an aqueous solution containing recoverable organic acids;
- and
- D. thereafter, recovering the fatty acid rich oil and recovering the organic acids from said aqueous solution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.