Crude glycerol glucoside esters of cottonseed oil: Preliminary cost analysis

Glycerol glucoside esters prepared by transglycosylation of starch and glycerol, followed by interesterification with esters of cottonseed oil fatty acids, are well suited for use in the steadily growing food emulsifier market. They offer formulators and processors a wide range of compositions and physical properties for achieving more effective emulsification without increase in cost. Process flowsheets, capital costs, manufacturing costs, and general expenses are given for the production of 5.7 million pounds and 17.2 million pounds of crude glycerol glucoside esters annually in hypothetical 4-ton batch and 12-ton batch grass-roots plants, respectively. A material balance and preliminary plant layout for the 12-ton batch plant are also provided. The cost of crude esters ranges from 37.4 cents to 43.7 cents/lb, indicating that the crude esters would be competitive with many commercially available food emulsifiers. The process can be carried out in conventional batch process equipment without production of polluting byproducts. Fixed capital investment for a new 12-ton batch plant would be $2.5 million, and for a new 4-ton plant, $1.3 million.