Patent ID: 6965043
Filing Date: 2005-11-15
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
1. A process for making high purity fatty acid lower alkyl esters, comprising the steps of: (a) converting a source of fatty acids to a product mixture comprising fatty acid lower alkyl esters and by-products; (b) water-washing the product mixture at a temperature of from about 60° C. to about 93° C. and an elevated pressure to remove at least a portion of the by-products from the product mixture; and (c) fractionally distilling the water-washed product mixture to obtain high purity fatty acid lower alkyl esters; and wherein at least a portion of the fatty acids have from about 20 to about 24 carbon atoms and further wherein the high purity fatty acid lower alkyl esters have an acid value of no greater than about 1.0.