Unilever Patent Holdings B.v.

Hendrikus J Van Den Berg

Cornelis M Lok

Johannes C Oudejans

Robbert Klok

Pieter M Van Dijk

Adelheid M Deryck

The invention provides a process for the esterification of a C.sub.2 -C.sub.24 monocarboxylic acid with a C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 monoalcohol in a reactor at an increased reaction temperature and increased pressure which is carried out in the absence of any esterification catalyst while continuously feeding in the alcohol during the reaction and removing a gaseous alcohol/water mixture. Preferably the process is carried out in countercurrent in column reactor which is packed or contains plates. The reaction temperature is usually between 200.degree. C. and 260.degree. C. at a pressure between 0.5 and 1.5 MPa. There is a C.sub.6 -C.sub.20 monocarboxylic acid and monoalcohol a C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 monoalcohol. More preferably the process is carried in two steps with a first step as described above and a second step in which further reaction to a conversion of at least 99% is carried out in the presence of an esterification catalyst at a temperature below 100.degree. C.

Continous esterification of carboxylic and fatty acids in the absense of

The invention provides a process for removing fatty acid metal soaps derived from metals with an atomic number from 27 to 29 from hydrogenated fatty products comprising separating solid metal precipitated under the influence of hydrogen at a pressure ranging between 0.05 and 10 MPa from the hydrogenated fatty products. Preferably the hydrogen pressure is between 0.2 and 5 MPa. Preferably the metal is nickel. It is recommended to effect the separation by filtration, using a filter comprising vertical pressure leaves. Also it is possible to treat the hydrogenated fatty product with hydrogen under a pressure between 0.05 and 10 MPa before separating the metal from the fatty product.

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Doetinchem, Netherlands

Hendrikus J Van Den Berg