Patent ID: 7807208
Filing Date: 2010-10-05
Classification: A23D,C11B,C11C

Abstract:
1. A method of making a hard palm oil fraction, comprising: selectively dry fractionating palm oil, or a stearin fraction thereof, by a melt crystallization process; said hard palm oil fraction is produced using a two-step melt crystallization process, without the use of a solvent and without further fractionation; a first step of said two-step melt crystallization process comprises crystallizing said palm oil or stearin fraction thereof at a first temperature within a range of about 22 degrees Celsius to about 25 degrees Celsius, and filtering a crystallized slurry of said palm oil or stearin fraction thereof through a membrane filter, said first step producing a medium hard palm oil fraction; a second step of said two-step melt crystallization process comprises crystallizing said medium hard palm oil fraction at a second temperature, greater than said first temperature, said second temperature being within a range of about 45 degrees Celsius to about 55 degrees Celsius; in a second filtration step, filtering a crystallized slurry of said medium hard palm oil fraction through a high pressure membrane type filter by applying pressure to the filtered stearin fraction by inflating membranes of said high pressure membrane type filter; said second filtration step producing a very hard palm oil fraction with a C16 carbon chain fatty acid residue level of greater than 70%, a melting point higher than 57 degrees Celsius, and a solid fat content of greater than 75% at 40 degrees Celsius, wherein said very hard palm oil fraction can be flaked for easy handling because of its high melting point in spite of not being required to undergo hydrogenation.