| abstract |
Saturated triglycerides are reacted with glycerol in the presence of either a glycerolysis catalyst or a pre-formed glycerate to provide a product which is a mixture of monoglycerides, triglycerides, 1, 2-diglycerides and 1,3- diglycerides. The mixture is stored in the presence of a low temperature rearrangement catalyst at a storage temperature below the melting point of the gylceride ester components of the mixture and substantially all of the mixture is converted into 1,3-diglycerides. In this way there are prepared, for example, 1-palmitoyl, 3-stearoyl diglyceride, 1,3-distearoyl diglyceride and 1,3-dipalmitoyl diglyceride, which are appropriate precursors for the synthesis of confectioner's hard butters, and the like. |