Patent ID: 9422507
Filing Date: 2016-08-23
CPC Classification: C11B,Y02W

Claim Text:
1. A process for recovering fatty acids, resin acids and sterols from tall oil pitch, said process comprising a1) saponifying the tall oil pitch with an alkali to hydrolyse esters included in the pitch to free alcohols and organic acids in salt form, b1) acidulating the saponified pitch with a mineral acid to convert the organic acids in salt form into free organic acids and to form an organic phase and an aqueous phase, c1) separating the aqueous phase from the organic phase, d1) treating the organic phase with an alkali in an amount to convert excess mineral acid used for acidulating the saponified pitch into a salt form without neutralizing free fatty acids and resin acids, e1) evaporation fractionating the alkali-treated organic phase to obtain a distillate rich in fatty acids and resin acids and a bottom fraction rich in sterols, f1) evaporation fractionating the bottom fraction to obtain a distillate rich in sterols, and g1) subjecting the sterols in the sterol-rich distillate to crystallisation purification, performed in the order recited, wherein the amount of the mineral acid in the acidulation is such that the pH of the aqueous phase is less than 3.8.