Process for the purification and decolorization of fatty acid alkyl ester

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

10:55 AM – 11:15 AM PST

Room: B115

Presenting Author(s)

Martin Rushworth (he/him/his)

Commercial Head Palm Oil Platform
Novonesis Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Co-Presenter(s)

KN

Karuna Narasimhan

Research Fellow
Procter & Gamble Co, Ohio, United States

Co-Author(s)

HonSeng Yee (he/him/his)

TS and Innovation Manager Oils and Fatas APAC
Novonesis Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
SP

Shalin Phoon (she/her/hers)

Laboratory Manager PHB SEA
Novonesis Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
SC

SokeYan Chong

Associate Industry Technology Specialist
Novonesis Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
KN

Karunakaran K. Narasimhan

Research Fellow
The Procter and Gamble Company
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
RB

Rajesh Balasubramanian

Group Scientist Oleochemicals
The Procter and Gamble Company
Singapore, Singapore
EC

Eng-Seng Chan

Professor
Monash University Malaysia
Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
WG

Wail Gourich

Research Doctorate Student
Monash University Malaysia
Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
PH

Patrick D. Howes

Technical Director
Natural Bleach Sdn Bhd
Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Co-Author(s)

JT

Jovina Tan

Development Scientist
The Procter and Gamble Company

Abstract:

This innovative development relates to a process of purification and decolorization to produce a high quality fatty acid methyl ester from fatty acid distillates and specifically from coconut fatty acid distillate. The process involves the four steps of enzymatic (trans)esterification, caustic polishing, acid washing and post treatment with an adsorbent, and has been tested and developed at laboratory 500 ml scale and at pilot scale of 10 kg. The final methyl esters have exhibited colours of between 4 and 5 Red in a five and one quarter Lovibond cell. This innovative process will benefit the oleochemical industry by enabling typical yield increases of between 3% and 6% of high quality methyl ester from dark coloured coconut fatty acid distillate feedstock.