Patent ID: 7897699

Claim:
A process for the preparation of a purified partially esterified polyol fatty acid polyester composition comprising the steps of: a) forming an initial reaction mixture, said initial reaction mixture comprising: i) a polyol portion; ii) a highly esterified polyol fatty acid polyester, said highly esterified polyester having a degree of esterification of at least about 80%; iii) a solvent; and, iv) a catalyst, wherein the molar ratio of said polyol portion to said highly esterified polyol polyester is in the range of from about 5:1 to about 40:1; wherein the molar ratio of said catalyst to said highly esterified polyol polyester is in the range of from about 0.01:1 to about 10:1, and wherein the weight ratio of said solvent to the combined weight of said polyol portion, said highly esterified polyol polyester, and said catalyst is in the range of from about 1:1 to about 20:1; b) forming an initial reaction product by reacting said initial reaction mixture in an inert atmosphere, in the presence of a sufficient amount of agitation, for a period of time in the range of from about 30 minutes to about 6 hours, and at a temperature in the range of from about 80° C. to about 140° C.; and c) optionally drying said initial reaction product, wherein the purified partially esterified polyol fatty acid polyester has a degree of esterification of less than about 40%.