Process for preparing partial polyol fatty acid esters

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A process for preparing partial polyol fatty acid esters, e.g. sucrose or sorbitol esters is improved, by, (1) mixing the polyol with an alkaline catalyst such as KOH, NaOH or their carbonates, preferably in aqueous solution or dissolved in C1-5 alcohols or ketones at atmospheric pressure and 10-80°C, (2) preparing a mixture of fatty acid lower alkyl esters with an emulsifier, preferably a fatty acid soap, and, (3) adding the alkaline polyol solution to the mixture of (2), whereby preferably the solvent is removed during the addition of (1) to (2) e.g. at 60°C, and 5 mbar. The reaction is improved so that partial polyol fatty acid esters with at most half of the polyol hydroxy groups being …