Methods for concentration and extraction of lubricity compounds and biologically active fractions from naturally derived fats, oils and greases

Abstract

Methods for recovery of concentrates of lubricating compounds and biologically active compounds from vegetable and animal oils, fats and greases that allow separation of triglycerides, from components with higher lubricity or biological activity or enrichment protocols that increase the concentration of high lubricity or biologically active compounds in the triglyceride. The triglycerides are transesterified with a lower alcohol to produce alkyl esters. Following the conversion process the esters are separated from high molecular weight high lubricity compounds and biologically active compounds by distillation. The esters have some lubricity and may be sold as pollution reducing fuel components. The high boiling point compounds that are the residues of distillation, however, can either contribute significant lubricity and may be used widely in lubricant applications or added to petroleum fuels to decrease friction or the biologically active components may be used in nutritional, cosmetic and therapeutic applications. Therapeutic applications include use in human diets to lower cholesterol.

1 . A process for extracting lubricity enhancing and biologically active compounds from oils, fats and greases, derived from animal and plant sources, comprising pressing a solid source material so as to release oils, fats and greases with lower levels of lubricity enhancing compounds, and solvent extracting pressed solid source material so as to produce a first oil, fat and grease concentrate of lubricity enhancing and biologically active compounds therefrom.  
   
   
       2 . A process according to  claim 1  including the steps of separating said lower level of lubricity enhancing and biologically active compounds from said pressed solid source material and mechanically extracting a second oil, fat or grease concentrate with elevated levels of lubricity enhancing and biologically active compounds.  
   
   
       3 . A process according to  claim 2  including combining said first and second concentrates.  
   
   
       4 . A process according to  claim 1  wherein triacyl glycerol molecules present in the concentrate are chemically modified so as to lower average molecular weight and distillation is utilized to extract modified triglyceride products and leave a concentrate of lubricity enhancing and biologically active compounds.  
   
   
       5 . A process according to  claim 3  where triacyl glycerol molecules present in the concentrates are chemically modified to lower the average molecular weight and distillation is utilized to extract the modified triglyceride products and leave a concentrate of lubricity enhancing compounds.  
   
   
       6 . A process according to  claim 1  where the fats are from tall oil.  
   
   
       7 . A process according to  claim 1  wherein the plant source is selected from the group consisting of soybean, canola, palm, olive, hemp, sunflower, rapeseed, flaxseed, corn and coconut.  
   
   
       8 . A process according to  claim 1  wherein the animal source is selected from the group consisting of swine, poultry and beef.  
   
   
       9 . A lubricity enhancing concentrate, derived by extraction from a source selected from animal and plant oils, fats and greases, and enriched in dolichol, dolichol phosphate, phospholipids, phospholipid metal ion complexes, diacylglycerides, monoacylglycerides, sterols, sterol fatty acyl esters, tocopherols, squalene, polyprenols, n-alkanols and wax esters.  
   
   
       10 . A process according to  claim 1  where triacyl glycerol molecules present in the source material grease are converted to alkyl esters, alcohols, amides, alkanes, aldehydes, fatty acids or amines to lower the average molecular weight prior to distillation for preparation of the lubricity concentrate.  
   
   
       11 . A process according to  claim 3  where triacyl glycerol molecules present in the source material are converted to alkyl esters, alcohols, amides, alkanes, aldehydes, fatty acids or amines to lower the average molecular weight prior to distillation for preparation of the lubricity concentrate.  
   
   
       12 . A process according to  claim 1  where high molecular weight substances are separated from lower molecular weight substances by size exclusion chromatography.  
   
   
       13 . A process according to  claim 1  where high molecular weight substances are separated from lower molecular weight substances by crystallization.  
   
   
       14 . A process according to  claim 1  where high molecular weight substances are separated from lower molecular substances by any combination of distillation, crystallization and chromatography.  
   
   
       15 . A process for enhancing lubricity characteristics of kerosene comprising adding thereto a lubricity enhancing concentrate as claimed in  claim 9 .  
   
   
       16 . A process for enhancing lubricity characteristics of diesel fuel comprising adding thereto a lubricity enhancing concentrate as claimed in  claim 9 .  
   
   
       17 . A process for enhancing lubricity characteristics of jet fuel comprising adding thereto a lubricity enhancing concentrate as claimed in  claim 9 .  
   
   
       18 . A process for enhancing lubricity characteristics of gasoline fuel for internal combustion engines comprising adding thereto a lubricity enhancing concentrate as claimed in  claim 9 .  
   
   
       19 . A process for enhancing lubricity characteristics of motor oil comprising adding thereto a lubricity enhancing concentrate as claimed in  claim 9 .  
   
   
       20 . A lubricity enhanced kerosene product comprising kerosene and a lubricity enhancing concentrate as claimed in  claim 9 .  
   
   
       21 . A lubricity enhanced diesel fuel product comprising diesel fuel and a lubricity enhancing concentrate as claimed in  claim 9 .  
   
   
       22 . A lubricity enhanced jet fuel product comprising jet fuel and a lubricity enhancing concentrate as claimed in  claim 9 .  
   
   
       23 . A lubricity enhanced gasoline product comprising gasoline and a lubricity enhancing concentrate as claimed in  claim 9 .  
   
   
       24 . A lubricity enhanced motor oil product comprising motor oil and a lubricity enhancing concentrate as claimed in  claim 9 .  
   
   
       25 . A biologically active concentrate derived by extraction from a source selected from animal and plant oils, fats and greases, and enriched in dolichol, dolichol phosphate, phospholipids, phospholipid metal ion complexes, diacylglycerides, monoacylglycerides, sterols, sterol fatty acyl esters, tocopherols, squalene, polyprenols, n-alkanols and wax esters.