Transesterification Process for Removing MOSH and MOAH from Lauric Oil
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current refining processes are ineffective in completely removing Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons (MOSH) and Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons (MOAH) from lauric oils, which are contaminants that can be harmful to human health and are present in edible vegetable oils.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the transesterification of lauric oil in the presence of an alcohol to obtain a fatty acid alkyl ester fraction, followed by purification and a second transesterification with glycerol to reduce the content of MOSH and MOAH, resulting in a MOSH and/or MOAH-reduced lauric oil.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If common refining processes (degumming, bleaching, deodorizing) are used to process lauric oil, then the oil becomes suitable for human consumption by removing impurities, but MOSH and MOAH contaminants are not effectively removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the oil by converting triglycerides to fatty acid alkyl esters through transesterification, altering the molecular structure to enable effective separation of MOSH and MOAH contaminants that cannot be removed by conventional refining processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (alcohol) that reacts with the lauric oil to form fatty acid alkyl esters, enabling the contaminants to be separated through distillation based on volatility differences between the ester fraction and contaminants
2Object-affected harmful factors
If deodorization process is used to remove MOSH from edible oils, then volatile subfraction with carbon chain length below C24 is reduced, but only partial reduction is achieved and heavier MOSH remains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters by converting the oil to fatty acid alkyl esters, which have different volatility characteristics. This enables distillation to effectively separate contaminants across the entire carbon chain range, not just the volatile fraction below C24
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal degradation mechanism of deodorization with a chemical transformation approach. Instead of using high temperature to volatilize contaminants, the method uses transesterification followed by distillation of the ester fraction, achieving broader contaminant removal
3Object-affected harmful factors
If transesterification and distillation steps are added to the refining process, then MOSH and MOAH removal efficiency is significantly improved, but the process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the transesterification reaction and contaminant separation into a integrated process flow. The fatty acid alkyl ester fraction obtained from transesterification is directly subjected to distillation, merging the purification function into the existing process framework
Solution Approach 2:
The patent discards the glycerol fraction containing concentrated MOSH and MOAH contaminants while recovering the purified fatty acid alkyl esters. The glycerol byproduct is removed from the system, eliminating the need for additional purification steps
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
This process effectively reduces the content of MOSH and MOAH in lauric oil by at least 25% to 80%, achieving a significant improvement over existing methods by maintaining the original fatty acid profile of the oil.
Implementation Method 1
Transesterifying a lauric oil in the presence of an alcohol, and obtaining a fatty acid alkyl ester fraction and glycerol fraction
Implementation Method 2
Purifying the fatty acid alkyl ester fraction from step a) into whole distilled lauric oil fatty acid alkyl esters
Implementation Method 3
Transesterifying the whole distilled lauric oil fatty acid alkyl esters from step b) in the presence of glycerol, and obtaining a MOSH and/or MOAH-reduced lauric oil
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for reducing the content of MOSH and/or MOAH in lauric oil, wherein the process is comprising the step of: a) transesterifying a lauric oil in the presence of an alcohol and obtaining a fatty acid alkyl ester fraction and glycerol fraction, b) purifying the fatty acid alkyl ester fraction from step a) into whole distilled lauric oil fatty acid alkyl esters, and c) transesterifying the whole distilled lauric oil fatty acid alkyl esters from step b) in the presence of glycerol, and obtaining a MOSH and/or MOAH-reduced lauric oil.