Patent ID: 7531677

Claim:
A process for the production of monoglycerides of fatty acids or fats and oils, comprising the steps of: (a) reacting starting materials comprising fatty acids or fats and oils, a reaction solvent and excess glycerol in the presence of an acidic or alkaline catalyst, with thorough mixing of the starting materials and with immediate removal of water formed during the reacting, to form a resultant product comprising a crude reaction product and other reaction components; (b) substantially separating the crude reaction product from the other reaction components through means exclusive of distillation including by washing the crude reaction product with an organic solvent to remove impurities that are less polar than glycerol, said washing comprising adding the organic solvent to the crude reaction product after formation thereof; (c) further removing unwanted reaction components from the crude reaction product by washing, with distilled water to form a final reaction product that consists essentially of the monoglycerides; and (d) drying the final reaction product, wherein said reacting in step (a) is carried out at a temperature, a ratio of the starting materials, a concentration of the acidic or alkaline catalyst and a reaction time such that, upon subjecting the crude reaction product to a purification in steps (b), (c), and (d), the final reaction product comprises the monoglycerides at a purity of at least 97%, said washing with organic solvent in step (b) and said washing with distilled water in step (c) being carried out with sufficient amounts of organic solvent and water respectively to obtain said monoglycerides of at least 97% purity.