Patent GB-617151-A (GB)
Title: Method and means for heat-bodying glyceride oils of the drying and semi-drying types
Filed: 1944-10-09
Abstract: <PICT:0617151/III/1> Glyceride oils of the drying and semi-drying types are heatbodied by subjecting a confined stream of the oil flowing upwardly in a reactor column to a bodying temperature while agitating the stream to maintain it substantially uniform in cross-sectional composition, and while continuously removing volatile contaminants from the oil.  Oils which may be thus treated include linseed, chinawood, perilla, cottonseed, corn, soyabean and sunflower oils and fish oils such as sardine and menhaden oils.  Dehydrated castor oil may also be treated in this way.  The saturated fatty compounds of relatively low molecular weight remaining in the oil after the heat-bodying reaction may be selectively hydrolysed with steam and converted to their corresponding fatty acids which may then be vaporized at a relatively low temperature together with other volatile non-drying fatty contaminants and removed from the oil by vacuum or steam distillation.  The oil may be heated to the bodying temperature before introduction into the reactor and, if desired, at least in part by heat exchange with the hot treated oil leaving the reactor.  The oil may be maintained in the reactor under a non-oxidizing atmosphere, if desired at a relatively high vacuum. However, it may be preferred to body the oil while mixed with a solvent or dispersing medium for the polymerized oil, for example, petroleum, coal tar derivatives and turpentine, and in this case an elevated pressure may have to be maintained in the reactor.  Ester gum or resin, particularly oil-soluble phenol-aldehyde or urea-aldehyde resin may also be used as the dispersing medium and may be incorporated with the oil prior to the heat-bodying or before or during the removal by distillation of the non-drying contaminants from the oil.  In the case of phenol-aldehyde and urea-aldehyde resins incorporated before the heat-bodying, reaction takes place between these resins and the oil to form high molecular weight compounds.  If desired, catalysing or reacting media such as determined amounts of oxygen or atmospheric air, sulphur, or chlorine vapours may be incorporated with the flowing stream of oil, to accelerate the bodying reaction or by reacting with the oil to effect a desired isomeric or other change in the composition of the oil. Apparatus for carrying out the heat-bodying treatment may comprise a preheater arranged to heat a confined flowing stream of the oil to bodying temperature, a reactor column communicating adjacent its lower end with the preheater, pressure-creating means arranged to force oil through the preheater and in an upwardly flowing stream through the reactor column, heating and cooling means associated with the reactor column and arranged to maintain the stream of oil in the reactor column at a substantially constant bodying temperature, vacuum-creating means associated with the reactor column and effective on the stream of oil therein, and agitating mechanism in the reactor column arranged so that the flowing oil stream is agitated horizontally, thereby maintaining it substantially uniform in cross-sectional composition.  In Fig. 3, oil is supplied to inlet 66 of reactor 65.  Electric induction heating coil 70 supplies heat to the lower part of the reactor and the oil is agitated by means of agitating means 69.  The oil while passing slowly through reactor 65, preferably is mixed with steam supplied through inlet 74.  The steam so supplied preferably is sufficient only to effect vaporization of volatile contaminants, additional steam being supplied through inlets 75 and 76 if it is desired to hydrolyse the non-drying glycerides. Fatty acids with other contaminants vaporize and pass from the oil together with steam through outlet 21.  They are condensed in condenser 22 and collected in receiver 23.  The treated oil passes from reactor 65 by outlet 77 to cooler 78 and is collected in receiver 79. Apparatus is also shown in which castor oil is continuously dehydrated and the dehydrated castor oil is then continuously bodied.  The dehydration reaction may be carried out in the presence of catalysts such as non-oxidizing acids, particularly sulphuric, hydrochloric or acetic acid, strong alkalies, heavy metal salts, and metal oxides, particularly aluminium or zinc oxide.  The catalyst is preferably mixed with a suitable porous bulking or distributing medium, such as fuller's or diatomaceous earth, before addition to the oil.ALSO:Glyceride oils of the drying and semi-drying types are heat-bodied by subjecting a confined stream of the oil flowing upwardly in a reactor column to a bodying temperature while agitating the stream to maintain it substantially uniform in cross-sectional composition, and while continuously removing volatile contaminants from the oil.  Oils which may be thus treated include linseed, chinawood, perilla, cottonseed, corn, soya bean and sunflower oils and fish oils such as sardine and menhaden oils. Dehydrated castor oil may also be treated in this way.  Ester gum or resin, particularly oil-soluble phenol-aldehyde or urea-aldehyde resin may be used as a dispersing medium for the oil and may be incorporated with the oil prior to the heat-bodying in which case phenol-aldehyde or urea-aldehyde resins will react with the oil to form high molecular weight compounds.