The separation of solid fatty acids from liquid fatty acids by the formation of acid soaps. II. Pilot plant studies

On contemplating pilot plant scale-up of the acid soap process for separating fatty acid mixtures into low and high iodine value fractions, improvements were desirable in acidifying agent used, and the method of separating the solid acid soaps. A further objective was to determine the range of applicability of the process. Studies indicated that CO₂ can be replaced by mineral acids, or by the fatty acids themselves. A continuous precoat vacuum filter is suitable for the separation of the solid acid soaps. The process is applicable to refinery foots as well as to distilled and undistilled fatty acids.