Nabisco, Inc.

Gilbert L Boldt

Allan D Roden

Turiddu A Pelloso

Lawrence P Klemann

Acetoglycerides are prepared in a solventless, single phase interesterification between triacetin and triglycerides bearing long C.sub.16 to C.sub.22 fatty acid residues by adding triglycerides bearing saturated C.sub.3 to C.sub.10 acid residues to the reaction mixture. The long acid residues may be hydrogenated before or after interesterification. In one embodiment, the C.sub.3 to C.sub.10 triglycerides are tripropionin, tributyrin, or mixtures of these; in another, these are triglycerides bearing C.sub.8 to C.sub.10 acid residues; and in a third, these are a mixture of tripropionin and/or tributyrin and C.sub.8 to C.sub.10 triglycerides. In preferred embodiments, the molar ratio of C.sub.16 to C.sub.22 triglycerides to triacetin and C.sub.3 to C.sub.10 triglycerides varies between 1:1 and 1:15, more narrowly between 1:3 and 1:12, and high temperatures are employed. The process diminishes catalyst use, obviates the need for high shear mixing, shortens reaction times, and simplifies purification steps.

Synthesis of acetoglyceride fats

Fat mixtures containing at least about 24%, more preferably at least about 34%, triglycerides bearing short, medium, and long residues are prepared. Many embodiments contain at least about 50%, and some at least about 75% to 90%, of these triglycerides, and have an acyl carbon number of 26 to 36. Especially preferred short substituents are derived from acetic acid, butyric acid, and mixtures of these with each other and with propionic acid. Especially preferred medium substituents have at least about 90% of the residues derived from capric acid, caprylic acid, and mixtures of these. Especially preferred long substituents contain at least about 70%, and many have at least about 85%, stearic acid or behenic acid residues or mixtures of these. One embodiment has an acyl carbon number of 28 to 32 and the long residues are predominantly stearic acid residues. Another embodiment has an acyl carbon number of 32 to 36 and the long residues are predominantly behenic acid residues. These fats may be prepared by interesterifying a mixture of triglycerides bearing short residues and triglycerides bearing medium residues with triglycerides bearing long residues and steam deodorizing the product at relatively high temperatures. The steam deodorized product can be further enriched with triglyceride species bearing short, medium, and long residues using molecular distillation.

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Indianapolis, IN, United States of America

Gilbert L Boldt