GB670906A - A method of selectively hydrogenating oils, fats or esters - Google Patents

Abstract

In the hydrogenation of oils, fats and esters containing acids of the oleic acid series and also aliphatic acids of a higher degree of unsaturation, the hydrogenation is made selective to the acids of a higher degree of unsaturation by effecting the reaction at 100-230 DEG C. under a pressure of 1-20 atmospheres or at 100-200 DEG C. under a pressure of 20-80 atmospheres in the presence of a catalyst, alone or dispersed on a carrier, the catalyst being free from activators and consisting of metallic copper.ALSO:In the hydrogenation of oils, fats and esters containing acids of the oleic acid series and also aliphatic acids of a higher degree of unsaturation, the hydrogenation is made selective to the acids of a higher degree of unsaturation by effecting the reaction at 100-230 DEG C under a pressure of 1-20 atmospheres or at 100 DEG -200 DEG C under a pressure of 20-80 atmospheres in the presence of a catalyst, alone or dispersed on a carrier, the catalyst being free from activators and consisting of metallic copper. Specified carriers are diatomaceous earth, acid clay, activated clay, active carbon, asbestos, iron oxide, zinc oxide, aluminium oxide, titanium oxide, silica gel, tin oxide, gypsum, barium sulphate, manganese oxide, porcelain clay, light stone, metallic zinc, tin, silicon and aluminium. The catalyst may be prepared by the surface oxidation of a wire or wire net alloy of copper with zinc, tin, silicon or aluminium, or by the acid or alkali extraction of metals other than copper from the said alloy. Alternatively it may be prepared by the repeated oxidation and reduction of metallic copper or copper formate, acetate or oxalate, or the heat decomposition of inorganic copper salts, e.g. the nitrate or carbonate, or mixtures of inorganic and organic copper salts.