Triacylglyceride Oil Purification With Auxiliary-Agent Crystallization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods are inadequate for effectively removing chlorinated precursors of monochloropropandiol esters (MCPDEs) during the oil refining process, which can lead to the formation of potentially harmful compounds like 3-MCPD esters, posing a challenge to the plant oil refining industry and requiring oils with high 3-MCPD content to be discarded.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of auxiliary agents with different melting points and higher polarity than the triacylglyceride oils to trap and separate chlorinated substances by crystallization, reducing the availability of chlorine donors during refining, thereby minimizing the formation of MCPD esters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If chlorination of acylglycerides is performed at high temperatures during oil refining, then the oil refining process can be completed, but chlorinated contaminants such as MCPD esters are formed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by removing chlorinated precursors from the oil before the high-temperature refining process. This is achieved through crystallization of auxiliary agents that trap these precursors, preventing them from acting as chlorine donors during subsequent deodorization and refining steps, thus eliminating MCPD ester formation while maintaining productive refining operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses auxiliary agents as intermediaries to trap chlorinated precursors. These auxiliary agents act as mediators between the chlorinated substances and the oil matrix, sequestering the harmful precursors in a separate crystalline phase that can be removed, thereby protecting the oil from contamination during high-temperature processing
2Device complexity
If chlorinated precursors are not removed before deodorisation, then the refining process is simpler, but chlorine donors are available to generate MCPD esters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary removal of chlorinated precursors through crystallization of auxiliary agents before the deodorization step. This preliminary action eliminates the chlorine donor pool without adding complex chemical treatment steps, maintaining process simplicity while preventing MCPD ester generation during the subsequent deodorization operation
3Object-generated harmful factors
If auxiliary trapping agents are used to remove chlorinated precursors, then MCPD ester formation is reduced, but additional crystallization and separation steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by exploiting differences in melting points and polarity between the auxiliary trapping agents and the oil components. By selecting auxiliary agents with specific physical parameters (lower melting point, higher polarity), the system achieves selective crystallization and phase separation, enabling effective MCPD ester reduction through physically-based parameter differentiation rather than complex chemical processes
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method significantly reduces the quantity of chlorinated precursors in refined oils, allowing for lower temperature deodorization and minimizing trans-fatty acid formation, resulting in oils with low or no MCPDEs, suitable for various refining practices.
Implementation Method 1
The trapped chlorinated substances may then be physically separated by crystallising either the auxiliary agents from the oil or vice versa
Implementation Method 2
The trapped chlorinated substances may then be physically separated by crystallising either the auxiliary agents from the oil or vice versa
Implementation Method 3
separating solid and liquid phases of the product of step (b)
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for purification of a triacylglyceride oil comprising the steps: (a) admixing the triacylglyceride oil with an auxiliary trapping agent, wherein the melting temperatures of the triacylglyceride oil and the auxiliary trapping agent are substantially different, wherein the auxiliary trapping agent is soluble in the triacylglyceride oil, and wherein the auxiliary trapping agent is more polar than the triacylglyceride oil; (b) (i) crystallising the auxiliary trapping agent by cooling the mixture of step (a) below the melting temperature of the auxiliary trapping agent, wherein the auxiliary trapping agent has a higher melting temperature than the triacylglyceride oil; or (ii) crystallising the triacylglyceride oil by cooling the mixture of step (a) below the melting 10 temperature of the triacylglyceride oil, wherein the triacylglyceride oil has a higher melting temperature than the auxiliary trapping agent; and (c) separating solid and liquid phases of the product of step (b).