Patent ID: 9458476
Filing Date: 2016-10-04
CPC Classification: A24B,C11B,C12P

Claim Text:
1. A method for producing glycerin from one or more plants of genus Nicotiana , the method comprising: (a) harvesting biomass and/or seed from the one or more plants of genus (b) isolating an acylglycerol-containing fraction from the harvested biomass and/or seed by subjecting the harvested biomass and/or seed or a portion thereof to cold pressing, solvent extraction, chromatography, distillation, filtration, recrystallization, solvent-solvent partitioning, or a combination thereof to form an acylglycerol-containing fraction; and (c) chemically transforming the acylglycerol-containing fraction by subjecting the acylglycerol-containing fraction to hydrolysis; wherein the hydrolysis comprises contacting the acylglycerol-containing fraction with a composition comprising an alkali metal hydroxide, an alkaline earth oxide or hydroxide, a mineral acid, or an esterase for a period of time sufficient for at least some of the acylglycerol contained in the fraction to be hydrolyzed, thereby producing fatty acids and glycerin.