Triacylglycerol oligomer products and methods of making same

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to triacylglycerol oligomer products and triacylglycerol-derived products and methods of making, using and producing same.

1 . A method for using a triacylglycerol oil oligomer to improve recycled paper pulp properties, comprising the steps of: 
 refining crude triacylglycerol oil to produce a refined triacylglycerol oil;    polymerizing the refined triacylglycerol oil to produce a triacylglycerol oil oligomer;    mixing the triacylglycerol oil oligomer with a surfactant to form an emulsion; and    mixing the emulsion with recycled pulp.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the crude triacylglycerol is a crude soybean oil.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in the step of refining the crude triacylglycerol oil to produce a refined triacylglycerol oil, the refining step is a degumming process wherein gums and waxes are removed from the crude triacylglycerol oil.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymerizing step occurs under a vacuum.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in the polymerizing step, a complexing agent is added to the refined triacylglycerol oil.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the complexing agent is a Group II or Group VIII metal compound.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the complexing agent is Ca(OH) 2 .  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymerizing step is conducted at a temperature of from 200° C. to about 360° C.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymerizing step is conducted at a temperature of 340° C., Ca(OH) 2  is added to the refined triacylglycerol oil, and the polymerizing step is conducted under a vacuum.  
     
     
         10 . A method for using a triacylglycerol oil oligomer to improve absorbent product properties, comprising the steps of: 
 refining crude triacylglycerol oil to produce a refined triacylglycerol oil;    polymerizing the refined triacylglycerol oil to produce a triacylglycerol oil oligomer;    mixing the triacylglycerol oil oligomer with a surfactant to form an emulsion; and    adding the emulsion to an absorbent product.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the crude triacylglycerol is a crude soybean oil.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein in the step of refining the crude triacylglycerol oil to produce a refined triacylglycerol oil, the refining step is a degumming process wherein gums and waxes are removed from the crude triacylglycerol oil.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the polymerizing step occurs under a vacuum.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein in the polymerizing step, a complexing agent is added to the refined triacylglycerol oil.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the complexing agent is a Group II or Group VIII metal compound.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the complexing agent is Ca(OH) 2 .  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the polymerizing step is conducted at a temperature of from 200° C. to about 360° C.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the polymerizing step is conducted at a temperature of 340° C., Ca(OH) 2  is added to the refined triacylglycerol oil, and the polymerizing step is conducted under a vacuum.