Unilever Patent Holdings B.v.

Lever Brothers Company

Internationale Octrooi Maatschappij 'octropa' Bv

Internationale Octrooi Maatschappij 'octropa' P.b.v.

Johannes C Oudejans

Cornelis M Lok

Peter Nootenboom

Keshab L Ganguli

Dirk Verzijl

Hendrikus J Van Den Berg

Pietro Gamba

Adelheid M Deryck

Thomas Buenemann

Martha J Botman

Aldo Rampi

Pieter M Van Dijk

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.

Removal of metal soaps from hydrogenated fatty products

The invention provides a nickel/silica catalyst optionally also containing cations of a lower Group II metal (X), which catalyst satisfies the following combination of features:

Nickel/silica catalysts and their preparation

The invention provides a process for purifying crude glycerol such as splitters crude, soaplye crude and methanolysis crude which comprises a microfiltration step over a filter material on a ceramic support preferably comprising alumina. Preferably the filter material comprises zirconia and/or alumina. Preferably the process further comprises the step of distillation and/or treatment with ion exchange resins. Also the process may involve a combination of microfiltration and ultrafiltration.

Process for purifying crude glycerol

The invention provides a metal (Z=27-29)/alumina catalyst with an atomic ratio of active metal to aluminum between 12 and 1.5, having an active metal content of at least 75% in the activated catalyst, an active metal surface area between 60 and 150 m.sup.2 /g of metal, characterized in that the soyabean selectivity is below 2%, preferably below 1%. The invention also provides a process for the preparation of these catalysts and a method for the hydrogenation of saturated organic compounds using the catalyst.

Process for the preparation of a hydrogenation catalyst

The invention provides a nickel/alumina/silicate catalyst, with an atomic ratio of nickel/aluminium between 20 and 2, a nickel/silicate ratio between 20 and 1, an active nickel surface area between 70 and 150 m.sup.2 /g nickel and an average pore size, depending on the above atomic ratio, between 4 and 20 nanometers. Preferably the nickel/aluminium atomic ratio is between 10 and 4 and the nickel/silicate ratio between 12 and 3. Preferably the catalyst has a specific porous structure. The invention also provides a method for preparing the catalyst by a two step process involving precipitating nickel ions and adding during a second, so-called ageing step a soluble aluminium compound and optionally the silicate. The silicate is preferably added during a second ageing step. The catalyst is useful for hydrogenating unsaturated organic compounds in particular oils.

Nickel/alumina/silicate catalyst, its preparation and use

The invention provides a nickel/alumina/silicate catalyst, with an atomic ratio of nickel/aluminium between 20 and 2, a nickel/silicate ratio between 20 and 1, an active nickel surface area between 70 and 150 m.sup.2 /g nickel and an average pore size, depending on the above atomic ratio, between 4 and 20 nanometers. Preferably the nickel/aluminium atomic ratio is between 10 and 4 and the nickel/silicate ratio between 12 and 3. Preferably the catalyst has a specific porous structure. The invention also provides a method for preparing the catalyst by a two step process involving precipitating nickel ions and adding during a second, so-called aging step a soluble aluminium compound and optionally the silicate. The silicate is preferably added during a second aging step. The catalyst is useful for hydrogenating unsaturated organic compounds in particular oils.

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Zevenaar, Netherlands

Johannes C Oudejans