Sterol Technologies Ltd.

Raisio Chemicals Oy

Raisio Benecol Ltd.

Antti Hamunen

Kari Nurmi

Jens- Mikael Gottberg

Keijo Ukkonen

Mika Anttila

The present invention describes a method for separating sterols from neutral substances comprising the sterols. The method generally starts with extracting a hydrocarbon fraction from neutral substances. The hydrocarbon fraction may be optionally washed with water. The neutral substances are separated from the hydrocarbon. The hydrocarbon fraction or the neutral substances are subjected to evaporation fractionating to obtain a sterol-rich fraction. The sterol-rich fraction is dissolved in a solvent, and the sterols are crystallized from the solvent. The obtained sterol crystals are separated from the solvent.

Process for the purification of sterols from hydrocarbon extracts using evaporative fractionation

The invention relates to a process for recovering sterols and/or wax alcohols from a crude tall oil based source material comprising sterols and/or wax alcohols in esterified form and fatty and/or rosin acids and optionally sterols and/or wax alcohols in free form, said method comprising the steps of: a) converting free acids in the source material to corresponding salts, b) removing water if present, c) transesterifying the esterified sterols and/or wax alcohols present in the dry material obtained in step a or step b to liberate sterols and/or wax alcohols, d) evaporative fractionating the transesterified material, and e) isolating sterols and/or wax alcohols from the obtained fraction(s) and/or the residue.

Process for the isolation of sterols and/or wax alcohols from tall oil products

A process for obtaining a product rich in unsaponifiable valuable substances from at least one of crude sulphate soap, crude tall oil or tall oil pitch is disclosed. The process comprises (1) providing a feed of at least one of crude sulphate soap, saponified crude tall oil or saponified tall oil pitch, (2) drying the feed, and (3) subjecting the dried feed to high vacuum evaporation to obtain a product rich in unsaponifiable valuable substances, wherein a softener has been incorporated into the dried feed before step (3) to produce a mixed feed. The softener is characterized by the following properties: 1) the mixed feed's viscosity is lower than the feed's viscosity, 2) the softener's vapor pressure is lower than the unsaponifiables of the feed's vapor pressure, 3) the softener's molecular weight is at least 750, and, optionally, 4) the softener is heat resistant.

Process for separating unsaponifiable valuable substances from sulphate soap based materials

A method for separating neutral substances from a soap containing the neutral substances, the method including the steps of: providing a mixture containing (1) the soap containing the neutral substances, (2) water optionally containing sodium sulfate and (3) a C -C hydrocarbon solvent, and heating the mixture to a temperature of at least 140&deg; C., to obtain a soap phase and a hydrocarbon phase containing the neutral substances, the heating step being conducted in a closed system under pressure, wherein the pressure in the system is at least equal to the vapor pressure of the mixture at the temperature used in the heating step; separating the hydrocarbon phase from the soap phase; and optionally separating the neutral substances from the hydrocarbon phase.

Method for the extraction and isolation of neutral substances from a soap

Method for controlling speck defects in recycling paper product

The invention relates to a polymer dispersion, by means of which the rheological properties and structure of various liquid and flowing mixtures may be adjusted. The dispersion is prepared by radical polymerizing, into a water soluble chain backbone polymer or into such a polymer brought water soluble, in a water solution at least one .alpha.-, .beta.-unsaturated carboxyl acid containing 3-8 carbons as well as at least one to a limited amount unsaturated monomer. The chain backbone polymer is preferably a starch derivative.

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Raisio, Finland

Antti Hamunen