US2278674A - Processing of tall oil - Google Patents
Processing of tall oil Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US2278674A US2278674A US303535A US30353539A US2278674A US 2278674 A US2278674 A US 2278674A US 303535 A US303535 A US 303535A US 30353539 A US30353539 A US 30353539A US 2278674 A US2278674 A US 2278674A
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- Prior art keywords
- fatty
- acids
- fatty acid
- alcohol
- esters
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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- 239000003784 tall oil Substances 0.000 title description 26
- 235000014113 dietary fatty acids Nutrition 0.000 description 57
- 239000000194 fatty acid Substances 0.000 description 57
- 229930195729 fatty acid Natural products 0.000 description 57
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 description 43
- LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethanol Chemical compound CCO LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 34
- 235000019441 ethanol Nutrition 0.000 description 34
- PEDCQBHIVMGVHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Glycerine Chemical compound OCC(O)CO PEDCQBHIVMGVHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 33
- -1 fatty acid esters Chemical class 0.000 description 33
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 33
- 150000007513 acids Chemical class 0.000 description 28
- 150000004665 fatty acids Chemical class 0.000 description 25
- 238000009835 boiling Methods 0.000 description 22
- 150000002148 esters Chemical class 0.000 description 16
- OKKJLVBELUTLKV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Methanol Chemical compound OC OKKJLVBELUTLKV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 12
- 239000003377 acid catalyst Substances 0.000 description 11
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 9
- 239000011347 resin Substances 0.000 description 9
- 229920005989 resin Polymers 0.000 description 9
- 150000005846 sugar alcohols Polymers 0.000 description 8
- VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrochloric acid Chemical compound Cl VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfuric acid Chemical compound OS(O)(=O)=O QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- 125000004432 carbon atom Chemical group C* 0.000 description 5
- 239000000470 constituent Substances 0.000 description 5
- 238000004821 distillation Methods 0.000 description 5
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 5
- RSWGJHLUYNHPMX-UHFFFAOYSA-N Abietic-Saeure Natural products C12CCC(C(C)C)=CC2=CCC2C1(C)CCCC2(C)C(O)=O RSWGJHLUYNHPMX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- UFWIBTONFRDIAS-UHFFFAOYSA-N Naphthalene Chemical compound C1=CC=CC2=CC=CC=C21 UFWIBTONFRDIAS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- KHPCPRHQVVSZAH-HUOMCSJISA-N Rosin Natural products O(C/C=C/c1ccccc1)[C@H]1[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@@H](CO)O1 KHPCPRHQVVSZAH-HUOMCSJISA-N 0.000 description 4
- XLOMVQKBTHCTTD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Zinc monoxide Chemical compound [Zn]=O XLOMVQKBTHCTTD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 239000003921 oil Substances 0.000 description 4
- KHPCPRHQVVSZAH-UHFFFAOYSA-N trans-cinnamyl beta-D-glucopyranoside Natural products OC1C(O)C(O)C(CO)OC1OCC=CC1=CC=CC=C1 KHPCPRHQVVSZAH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- LYCAIKOWRPUZTN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethylene glycol Chemical compound OCCO LYCAIKOWRPUZTN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- DNIAPMSPPWPWGF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Propylene glycol Chemical compound CC(O)CO DNIAPMSPPWPWGF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- HEMHJVSKTPXQMS-UHFFFAOYSA-M Sodium hydroxide Chemical compound [OH-].[Na+] HEMHJVSKTPXQMS-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 3
- 150000001298 alcohols Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- MTHSVFCYNBDYFN-UHFFFAOYSA-N diethylene glycol Chemical compound OCCOCCO MTHSVFCYNBDYFN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 150000002194 fatty esters Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000010992 reflux Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000005809 transesterification reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- LRHPLDYGYMQRHN-UHFFFAOYSA-N N-Butanol Chemical compound CCCCO LRHPLDYGYMQRHN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- CDBYLPFSWZWCQE-UHFFFAOYSA-L Sodium Carbonate Chemical compound [Na+].[Na+].[O-]C([O-])=O CDBYLPFSWZWCQE-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 2
- PMZURENOXWZQFD-UHFFFAOYSA-L Sodium Sulfate Chemical compound [Na+].[Na+].[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O PMZURENOXWZQFD-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 2
- QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-L Sulfate Chemical compound [O-]S([O-])(=O)=O QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 2
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000003054 catalyst Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000032050 esterification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005886 esterification reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 2
- 125000005456 glyceride group Chemical group 0.000 description 2
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000003756 stirring Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910021653 sulphate ion Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000011787 zinc oxide Substances 0.000 description 2
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- FBPFZTCFMRRESA-FSIIMWSLSA-N D-Glucitol Natural products OC[C@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)CO FBPFZTCFMRRESA-FSIIMWSLSA-N 0.000 description 1
- FBPFZTCFMRRESA-KVTDHHQDSA-N D-Mannitol Chemical compound OC[C@@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H](O)CO FBPFZTCFMRRESA-KVTDHHQDSA-N 0.000 description 1
- FBPFZTCFMRRESA-JGWLITMVSA-N D-glucitol Chemical compound OC[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H](O)CO FBPFZTCFMRRESA-JGWLITMVSA-N 0.000 description 1
- DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M Ilexoside XXIX Chemical compound C[C@@H]1CC[C@@]2(CC[C@@]3(C(=CC[C@H]4[C@]3(CC[C@@H]5[C@@]4(CC[C@@H](C5(C)C)OS(=O)(=O)[O-])C)C)[C@@H]2[C@]1(C)O)C)C(=O)O[C@H]6[C@@H]([C@H]([C@@H]([C@H](O6)CO)O)O)O.[Na+] DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 229930195725 Mannitol Natural products 0.000 description 1
- 235000008331 Pinus X rigitaeda Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000011613 Pinus brutia Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 241000018646 Pinus brutia Species 0.000 description 1
- ZLMJMSJWJFRBEC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Potassium Chemical compound [K] ZLMJMSJWJFRBEC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920001131 Pulp (paper) Polymers 0.000 description 1
- ATJFFYVFTNAWJD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Tin Chemical compound [Sn] ATJFFYVFTNAWJD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- HCHKCACWOHOZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Zinc Chemical compound [Zn] HCHKCACWOHOZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- FMRLDPWIRHBCCC-UHFFFAOYSA-L Zinc carbonate Chemical compound [Zn+2].[O-]C([O-])=O FMRLDPWIRHBCCC-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 238000006136 alcoholysis reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003513 alkali Substances 0.000 description 1
- BRPQOXSCLDDYGP-UHFFFAOYSA-N calcium oxide Chemical compound [O-2].[Ca+2] BRPQOXSCLDDYGP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000000292 calcium oxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- ODINCKMPIJJUCX-UHFFFAOYSA-N calcium oxide Inorganic materials [Ca]=O ODINCKMPIJJUCX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000003197 catalytic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009833 condensation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005494 condensation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 125000004494 ethyl ester group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 125000001495 ethyl group Chemical group [H]C([H])([H])C([H])([H])* 0.000 description 1
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000019387 fatty acid methyl ester Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000004615 ingredient Substances 0.000 description 1
- 125000001449 isopropyl group Chemical group [H]C([H])([H])C([H])(*)C([H])([H])[H] 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000395 magnesium oxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- CPLXHLVBOLITMK-UHFFFAOYSA-N magnesium oxide Inorganic materials [Mg]=O CPLXHLVBOLITMK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- AXZKOIWUVFPNLO-UHFFFAOYSA-N magnesium;oxygen(2-) Chemical compound [O-2].[Mg+2] AXZKOIWUVFPNLO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000000594 mannitol Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000010355 mannitol Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 150000004702 methyl esters Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 125000002496 methyl group Chemical group [H]C([H])([H])* 0.000 description 1
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000001590 oxidative effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000020477 pH reduction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011591 potassium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052700 potassium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 125000001436 propyl group Chemical group [H]C([*])([H])C([H])([H])C([H])([H])[H] 0.000 description 1
- 238000007127 saponification reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000344 soap Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011734 sodium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052708 sodium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910000029 sodium carbonate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052938 sodium sulfate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 235000011152 sodium sulphate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000600 sorbitol Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001256 steam distillation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000001117 sulphuric acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000011149 sulphuric acid Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- ZIBGPFATKBEMQZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N triethylene glycol Chemical compound OCCOCCOCCO ZIBGPFATKBEMQZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000002966 varnish Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002023 wood Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011701 zinc Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052725 zinc Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011667 zinc carbonate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910000010 zinc carbonate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 235000004416 zinc carbonate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
- C11C—FATTY ACIDS FROM FATS, OILS OR WAXES; CANDLES; FATS, OILS OR FATTY ACIDS BY CHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF FATS, OILS, OR FATTY ACIDS OBTAINED THEREFROM
- C11C3/00—Fats, oils, or fatty acids by chemical modification of fats, oils, or fatty acids obtained therefrom
- C11C3/003—Fats, oils, or fatty acids by chemical modification of fats, oils, or fatty acids obtained therefrom by esterification of fatty acids with alcohols
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09F—NATURAL RESINS; FRENCH POLISH; DRYING-OILS; OIL DRYING AGENTS, i.e. SICCATIVES; TURPENTINE
- C09F1/00—Obtaining purification, or chemical modification of natural resins, e.g. oleo-resins
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
- C11C—FATTY ACIDS FROM FATS, OILS OR WAXES; CANDLES; FATS, OILS OR FATTY ACIDS BY CHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF FATS, OILS, OR FATTY ACIDS OBTAINED THEREFROM
- C11C3/00—Fats, oils, or fatty acids by chemical modification of fats, oils, or fatty acids obtained therefrom
- C11C3/04—Fats, oils, or fatty acids by chemical modification of fats, oils, or fatty acids obtained therefrom by esterification of fats or fatty oils
Definitions
- Patented Apr. 7, 1942 PROCESSING OF TALL OIL Ernest Segessernann, Newark, N. J., assignor to National Oil Products Company, Harrison, N. 1., a corporation of New Jersey No Drawing. Application November 9, 1939, Serial No. 303,535
- the invention relates in general to the production of valuable products from tall oil and more particularly to a process of separating the fatty acids from the resin acids normally present in tall oil.
- Tall oil or talloel which literally means pine o is the resinous and fatty by-produot obtained in the production of paper pulp from resin-bearing woods by the so-called sulphate process.
- wood is digested with an alkaline liquor containing sodium sulphate during which operation tall oil accumulates in the form of its sodium soap on the surface of the waste liquor.
- the main constituents of this oil after acidification comprise fatty acids and resinic acids each of which are valuable commodities in substantially pure form.
- Various processes have been proposed in an attempt to effect a separation of tall oil into its main constituents, i. e. fatty acids and resinic acids.
- One process comprises esterifying the fatty acids in tall oil with a low boiling alcohol and separating the resulting fatty ester from the free rosin by alkali extraction or by distillation.
- Another known process comprises esterifying the fatty acids with a polyhydric alcohol and distilling off the resinic acids.
- both the fatty acids and the resinic acids are esterified with a polyhydric alcohol and the resin esters are then catalytically split and the liberated resinic acids distilled off.
- the general object of this invention is to obviate the foregoing and other disadvantages.
- a specific object of the invention is to provide a process of recovering from tall oil both the fatty acids and the resinic acids each in substantially pure and uncontaminated form.
- a further object of the invention is to provide an improved and more emcient process of separating the main constituents in tall oil.
- the foregoing objects are accomplished according to the process of the invention by esterifying the fatty and resinic acids in tall oil with an alcohol of the kind that will result in esters of relatively low vapor pressure and then transesterifying the esters of the fatty acids by alcoholysis with an alcohol of the type that produces esters of high vapor pressure.
- the resulting mixture comprises relatively low boiling fatty acid esters, higher boiling resin esters, excess of low boiling alcohol used for trans-esterification of the fatty esters and high boiling alcohol liberated during trans-esterification of the fatty esters.
- the low boiling alcohol is then separated by distillation and the high boiling alcoholmay be separated from the mixture by settling procedures, or it may be washed out with water or other suitable solvents.
- the fatty acid esters are finally distilled off under reduced pressure from the resin esters with or without the use of steam distillation.
- the fatty acid esters thus obtained are practically free from contamination with resin acids or esters thereof which remain in the still.
- the invention accordingly comprises the several steps and the relation of one or more of such steps with respect to each of the others thereof, which will be exemplified in the process hereinafter disclosed, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
- the tall oil to be treated may be in the crude or partially or completely refined state.
- Any suitable relatively high boiling alcohol may be used for the first step of complete esterification of the fatty acids and resinic acids, but it is preferred to employ polyhydric alcohols such as glycerol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, sorbitol, mannitol, etc. While any suitable polyhydric alcohol may be used, it is highly preferred to employ glycerol for various reasons including cost and efficiency of operation.
- any suitable relatively low boiling alcohol having a carbon content preferably not more than five carbon atoms may be used.
- alcohols include, inter alia, monohydric alcohols such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, etc. alcohols or any other alcohol that will produce fatty acid esters having a boiling point sufficiently low with respect to that of the resin esters to permit a complete separation of the fatty acid esters by distillation.
- the first step of complete esterification of the fatty acids and the resinic acids with a high boiling alcohol may be carried out by heating the mixture of tall oil and alcohol at temperatures generally ranging from C. to a temperature just below that of the boiling point of the alcohol in a closed vessel provided with a stirring device and a reflux condenser of such design that it permits the escape of water vapors formed during the reaction but condenses the alcohol and fatty acids returning them to the reaction chamber.
- a stream of non-oxidizing gas such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, 'etc.
- esteriflcation may be effected under a partial vacuum. Esteriflcation may be carried out with or without the use of a catalyst, but it is preferred to accelerate the reaction by such catalizing agents as zinc oxide, zinc carbonate, magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, powdered tin or zinc, or the like.
- the trans-estierilcation of the fatty acid esters is carried out by heating the esters, formed in the first step as described above, with an excess of the low boiling alcohol at its boiling point in a closed vessel provided with an efficient reflux condenser, using a suitable catalyst, such as, sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, naphthalene betasulphonic acid, sodiumor potassium alcoholates or the like.
- a suitable catalyst such as, sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, naphthalene betasulphonic acid, sodiumor potassium alcoholates or the like.
- the reaction mass comprises essentially relatively low boiling fatty acid esters relatively high boiling resin esters, low boiling alcohol and high boiling alcohol.
- the high boiling alcohol usually separates out in a separate layer and may thus be withdrawn.
- the low boiling alcohol may be distilled off from the mass alone, or it may be distilled off with the fatty acid esters which are preferably removed from the resinic acid esters by distillation.
- Example #1 a temperature of 200 C. is reached and that the temperature rises gradually until at the end of the seventh hour 280 C. is reached.
- the acid number of the mixed esters has now dropped to below 5.0.
- the water formed during the reaction is allowed to escape, the fatty acids and the glycerol being returned to the reaction chainby suitable reflux condensation.
- a stream of carbon dioxide is introduced into the reacting mass by means of an inlet tube at the bottom of the vessel. After cooling 50 parts of methanol containing 3 parts of dissolved I-ICl gas is added and the mixture is refluxed for sixteen hours.
- the hydrochloric acid is then neutralized by the addition of an equivalent quantity of sodium hydroxide dissolved in methanol and the excess methanol is then distilled off at atmospheric pressure.
- the glycerol which has been set free by the transesteriilcation of the fatty acid esters has accumulated at the bottom of the vessel and is drawn off.
- the fatty acid methyl esters are then distilled off at a pressure of 2 mm. Hg between a temperature of 140 C. to 180 C.
- the methyl esters thus obtained consisting of a straw-colored liquid are substantially free from rosin having an acid number of less than 2 mgs. They may be used as such for various industrial purposes or they may be split into their fatty acids according to known processes, or they may be sulfonated, phosphated or hydrogenated.
- the still residue consisting mainly of the glycerides of the resinic acids is a plastic mass of lightbrown color, which finds application as a valuable ingredient in the manufacture of varnishes or in other industries. If desired the rosin and glycerol may be recovered by saponification or catalytic splitting of the esters.
- Example #2 parts of distilled tall oil (having a resinic acid content of 40%) is heated with rapid stirring with 11 parts of anhydrous glycerol and with 0.3 part of zinc oxide at such a rate that at the end of one hour 190 C. is reachedand that at the end of the fifth hour the temperature has risen to 260 C.
- the mass consisting of the mixed glycerides of the fatty and resinic acids is allowed to cool and is then refluxed with 70 parts of ethyl alcohol and 2 parts of sulfuric acid for eight hours.
- the sulfuric acid is then neutralized by the addition of an equivalent quantity of sodium carbonate and the excess ethyl alcohol distilled off.
- the liberated glycerol is allowed to settle out and is drawn oil.
- the ethyl esters of the fatty acids are then distilled oil at 1 to 2 mm. Hg between to C.
- resinic acids is employed herein to connote rosin acids and/or any other resin acids normally present in tall oil.
- the process of separating the fatty constituents from the resinous constituents of tall oil which comprises esterifying the fatty and resinic acids with an alcohol of the type that produces esters of relatively low vapor pressure, trans-'esterifying the fatty acid esters only with an alcohol of the type that produces fatty acid esters of relatively high vapor pressure with respect to that of the unaffected resinic acid esters, and separating the fatty acid esters by distillation under reduced pressure.
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
- Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
- Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
Description
Patented Apr. 7, 1942 PROCESSING OF TALL OIL Ernest Segessernann, Newark, N. J., assignor to National Oil Products Company, Harrison, N. 1., a corporation of New Jersey No Drawing. Application November 9, 1939, Serial No. 303,535
15 Claims.
The invention relates in general to the production of valuable products from tall oil and more particularly to a process of separating the fatty acids from the resin acids normally present in tall oil.
"Tall oil or talloel," which literally means pine o is the resinous and fatty by-produot obtained in the production of paper pulp from resin-bearing woods by the so-called sulphate process. In the sulphate process wood is digested with an alkaline liquor containing sodium sulphate during which operation tall oil accumulates in the form of its sodium soap on the surface of the waste liquor. The main constituents of this oil after acidification comprise fatty acids and resinic acids each of which are valuable commodities in substantially pure form. Various processes have been proposed in an attempt to effect a separation of tall oil into its main constituents, i. e. fatty acids and resinic acids. One process comprises esterifying the fatty acids in tall oil with a low boiling alcohol and separating the resulting fatty ester from the free rosin by alkali extraction or by distillation. Another known process comprises esterifying the fatty acids with a polyhydric alcohol and distilling off the resinic acids. According to another process both the fatty acids and the resinic acids are esterified with a polyhydric alcohol and the resin esters are then catalytically split and the liberated resinic acids distilled off.
While the foregoing and other known processes have been employed with varying degrees of success, the fact remains that only a partial separation is being effected thereby. The resulting fatty acids and their esters are invariably contaminated with appreciable quantities of resinic acids.
The general object of this invention is to obviate the foregoing and other disadvantages.
A specific object of the invention is to provide a process of recovering from tall oil both the fatty acids and the resinic acids each in substantially pure and uncontaminated form.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved and more emcient process of separating the main constituents in tall oil.
Other objects will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereafter.
The foregoing objects are accomplished according to the process of the invention by esterifying the fatty and resinic acids in tall oil with an alcohol of the kind that will result in esters of relatively low vapor pressure and then transesterifying the esters of the fatty acids by alcoholysis with an alcohol of the type that produces esters of high vapor pressure. The resulting mixture comprises relatively low boiling fatty acid esters, higher boiling resin esters, excess of low boiling alcohol used for trans-esterification of the fatty esters and high boiling alcohol liberated during trans-esterification of the fatty esters. The low boiling alcohol is then separated by distillation and the high boiling alcoholmay be separated from the mixture by settling procedures, or it may be washed out with water or other suitable solvents. The fatty acid esters are finally distilled off under reduced pressure from the resin esters with or without the use of steam distillation. The fatty acid esters thus obtained are practically free from contamination with resin acids or esters thereof which remain in the still.
The invention accordingly comprises the several steps and the relation of one or more of such steps with respect to each of the others thereof, which will be exemplified in the process hereinafter disclosed, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
In carrying out the process of the invention the tall oil to be treated may be in the crude or partially or completely refined state. Any suitable relatively high boiling alcohol may be used for the first step of complete esterification of the fatty acids and resinic acids, but it is preferred to employ polyhydric alcohols such as glycerol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, sorbitol, mannitol, etc. While any suitable polyhydric alcohol may be used, it is highly preferred to employ glycerol for various reasons including cost and efficiency of operation. For trans-esterification of the fatty acid esters any suitable relatively low boiling alcohol having a carbon content preferably not more than five carbon atoms may be used. Examples of such alcohols include, inter alia, monohydric alcohols such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, etc. alcohols or any other alcohol that will produce fatty acid esters having a boiling point sufficiently low with respect to that of the resin esters to permit a complete separation of the fatty acid esters by distillation.
The first step of complete esterification of the fatty acids and the resinic acids with a high boiling alcohol may be carried out by heating the mixture of tall oil and alcohol at temperatures generally ranging from C. to a temperature just below that of the boiling point of the alcohol in a closed vessel provided with a stirring device and a reflux condenser of such design that it permits the escape of water vapors formed during the reaction but condenses the alcohol and fatty acids returning them to the reaction chamber. During the process of reaction it is of advantage for obtaining light-colored products to pass a stream of non-oxidizing gas such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, 'etc., through the reaction mass, or esteriflcation may be effected under a partial vacuum. Esteriflcation may be carried out with or without the use of a catalyst, but it is preferred to accelerate the reaction by such catalizing agents as zinc oxide, zinc carbonate, magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, powdered tin or zinc, or the like.
The trans-esteriilcation of the fatty acid esters is carried out by heating the esters, formed in the first step as described above, with an excess of the low boiling alcohol at its boiling point in a closed vessel provided with an efficient reflux condenser, using a suitable catalyst, such as, sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, naphthalene betasulphonic acid, sodiumor potassium alcoholates or the like.
The reaction mass comprises essentially relatively low boiling fatty acid esters relatively high boiling resin esters, low boiling alcohol and high boiling alcohol. The high boiling alcohol usually separates out in a separate layer and may thus be withdrawn. The low boiling alcohol may be distilled off from the mass alone, or it may be distilled off with the fatty acid esters which are preferably removed from the resinic acid esters by distillation.
I'br a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following examples which are given merely to illustrate the invention and are not to be construed in a limiting sense, all parts being by weight.
Example #1 a temperature of 200 C. is reached and that the temperature rises gradually until at the end of the seventh hour 280 C. is reached. The acid number of the mixed esters has now dropped to below 5.0. The water formed during the reaction is allowed to escape, the fatty acids and the glycerol being returned to the reaction chainby suitable reflux condensation. During the process of reaction a stream of carbon dioxide is introduced into the reacting mass by means of an inlet tube at the bottom of the vessel. After cooling 50 parts of methanol containing 3 parts of dissolved I-ICl gas is added and the mixture is refluxed for sixteen hours. The hydrochloric acid is then neutralized by the addition of an equivalent quantity of sodium hydroxide dissolved in methanol and the excess methanol is then distilled off at atmospheric pressure. After allowing to stand for three to four hours the glycerol which has been set free by the transesteriilcation of the fatty acid esters has accumulated at the bottom of the vessel and is drawn off. The fatty acid methyl esters are then distilled off at a pressure of 2 mm. Hg between a temperature of 140 C. to 180 C.
The methyl esters thus obtained consisting of a straw-colored liquid are substantially free from rosin having an acid number of less than 2 mgs. They may be used as such for various industrial purposes or they may be split into their fatty acids according to known processes, or they may be sulfonated, phosphated or hydrogenated. The still residue consisting mainly of the glycerides of the resinic acids is a plastic mass of lightbrown color, which finds application as a valuable ingredient in the manufacture of varnishes or in other industries. If desired the rosin and glycerol may be recovered by saponification or catalytic splitting of the esters.
Example #2 parts of distilled tall oil (having a resinic acid content of 40%) is heated with rapid stirring with 11 parts of anhydrous glycerol and with 0.3 part of zinc oxide at such a rate that at the end of one hour 190 C. is reachedand that at the end of the fifth hour the temperature has risen to 260 C. The mass consisting of the mixed glycerides of the fatty and resinic acids is allowed to cool and is then refluxed with 70 parts of ethyl alcohol and 2 parts of sulfuric acid for eight hours. The sulfuric acid is then neutralized by the addition of an equivalent quantity of sodium carbonate and the excess ethyl alcohol distilled off. The liberated glycerol is allowed to settle out and is drawn oil. The ethyl esters of the fatty acids are then distilled oil at 1 to 2 mm. Hg between to C.
The expression "resinic acids" is employed herein to connote rosin acids and/or any other resin acids normally present in tall oil.
While the present invention is particularly adapted for the treatment of tall oil, it is within the purview of the invention to employ the process for separating resinic acids from fatty acids in any mixture.
Since certain changes may be made in carrying out the above process without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which as a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.
Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by letters Patent is:
1. In a process of treating tall oil to separate the fatty acid components from the resinic acid components, the steps which comprise esterifying the fatty and resinic acids with a relatively high boiling alcohol, subsequently trans-esterifying the fatty acid esters only with an alcohol having a lower boiling point than the first alcohol, and distilling of! the fatty acid esters thus formed.
2. In a process of treating tall oil to separate the fatty acid components from the resinic acid components, the steps which comprise esterlfying the fatty and resinic acids with a polyhydric alcohol, subsequently trans-esterifying the fatty acid esters only with a monohydric alcohol containing less than six carbon atoms. and distilling ofl the fatty acid esters thus formed.
3. In a process of treating tall oil to separate the fatty acid components from the resinic acid components, the steps which comprise esterifying the fatty and resinic acids with a polyhydric alcohol, subsequently trans-esterifying the fatty acid esters only with a monohydric alcohol containing less than six carbon atoms in the presence of an acid catalyst, and distilling oi! the fatty acid esters thus formed.
4. In a process of treating tall oil to separate the fatty acid components from the resinic acid components, the stepswhich comprise esterifying the fatty and resinic acids with a polyhydric alcohol, subsequently trans-esterifying the fatty acid esters only with methyl alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst, and distilling off the fatty acid esters thus formed.
5. In a process of treating tall oil to separate ence of an acid catalyst, and distilling off the fatty acid esters thus formed.
7. In a process of treating tall oil to separate the fatty acid components from the resinic acid components, the steps which comprise esterifying the fatty and resinic acids with glycerol, subsequently trans-esterifying the fatty acid esters only with a monohydric alcohol having not more than carbon atoms in the presence of an acid catalyst, and distilling off the fatty acid esters" thus formed.
8. In a process of treating tal 1011 to separate the fatty acid components from the resinic acid components, the steps which comprise esterifying the 'fatty and resinic acids with glycerol, subsequently trans-esterifying the fatty acid esters only withmethyl alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst, and distilling ofi the fatty acid esters thus formed.
9. In a process of treating tall oil to separate the fatty acid componentsfrom the resinic acid components, the steps which comprise esterifying the fatty and resinic acids with glycerol, subsequently trans-esterifying the fatty acid esters only with ethyl alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst, and distilling off the fatty acid esters thus formed.
10. In a process of treating tall oil to separate the fatty acid components from the resinic acid components, the steps which comprise esterifying the fatty and resinic acids with glycerol, subsequently trans-esterifying the fatty acid esters only with a butyl alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst, and distilling off the fatty acid esters thus formed.
11. The process of separating the fatty constituents from the resinous constituents of tall oil which comprises esterifying the fatty and resinic acids with an alcohol of the type that produces esters of relatively low vapor pressure, trans-'esterifying the fatty acid esters only with an alcohol of the type that produces fatty acid esters of relatively high vapor pressure with respect to that of the unaffected resinic acid esters, and separating the fatty acid esters by distillation under reduced pressure.
12. In a process of treating tall oil to separate the fatty acid components from the resinic acid components, the steps which comprise esterifying the fatty and resinic acids with a polyhydric alcohol, subsequently trans-esterifying the fatty acid esters only with a monohydric alcohol having not more than 5 carbon atoms in the presence of an acid catalyst, and distilling off the fatty acid esters thus formed.
' 13. The process of claim 12 in which HCl is used as the acid catalyst.
14. The process of claim 12 in which H2804, is used as the acid catalyst.
15. The process of claim 12 in which naphthalene beta-sulfonic acid is usedas the acid catalyst.
ERNEST SEGESSEMANN.
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US303535A US2278674A (en) | 1939-11-09 | 1939-11-09 | Processing of tall oil |
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Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US303535A US2278674A (en) | 1939-11-09 | 1939-11-09 | Processing of tall oil |
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US2278674A true US2278674A (en) | 1942-04-07 |
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Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2491660A (en) * | 1947-01-15 | 1949-12-20 | Du Pont | Preparation of esters of terephthalic acid |
US2516834A (en) * | 1944-07-17 | 1950-08-01 | Severoceske Tukove Zd Y | Process for the production of sterols from oils, fats, and fatty acids |
US2588435A (en) * | 1942-06-19 | 1952-03-11 | Lever Brothers Ltd | Process of treating fatty material |
US2781386A (en) * | 1950-09-09 | 1957-02-12 | Willy Spangenberg & Co | Manufacturing drying paints |
-
1939
- 1939-11-09 US US303535A patent/US2278674A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2588435A (en) * | 1942-06-19 | 1952-03-11 | Lever Brothers Ltd | Process of treating fatty material |
US2516834A (en) * | 1944-07-17 | 1950-08-01 | Severoceske Tukove Zd Y | Process for the production of sterols from oils, fats, and fatty acids |
US2491660A (en) * | 1947-01-15 | 1949-12-20 | Du Pont | Preparation of esters of terephthalic acid |
US2781386A (en) * | 1950-09-09 | 1957-02-12 | Willy Spangenberg & Co | Manufacturing drying paints |
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