The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 06, 1993
Filed:
Jun. 14, 1990
Peter N Pintauro, Kenner, LA (US);
Tulane Educational Fund, New Orleans, LA (US);
Abstract
An electrocatalytic process for hydrogenating an unsaturated fatty acid, triglyceride, or mixtures thereof as an oil or fat is described. Current is passed through a cathode and hydrogen is generated in situ on the high surface area, low hydrogen overvoltage catalytic material used as the cathode in a reactor containing a liquid reaction medium (electrolyte) comprised of oil and/or fat, water and/or an organic solvent (e.g. t-butanol), and a supporting electrolyte salt. Typical catalytic cathodes comprise a granular or powdered Raney metal or an alloy thereof, platinum black, ruthenium black, or finely divided carbon powder containing platinum, palladium, or ruthenium. Typical supporting electrolyte salts include sodium p-toluenesulfonate, tetraethylammonium p-toluenesulfonate, and sodium or potassium phosphate monobasic. A novel partially hydrogenated oil or fat product is obtained when the above process is carred out at temperatures less than 75.degree. C. The product is characterized by a trans isomer content lower than that of a hydrogenated product which is prepared by a high temperature, chemical catalytic process. The specific isomer selectivity index of cis to trans isomer was 0.36 or less.