Method of Improving Oil Compositions

Abstract

A method of improving the low temperature properties of an oil comprising fatty acid alkyl esters derived from plant or animal materials, wherein at least 5% by weight of the fatty acid alkyl esters are derived from C 16 -C 22 saturated fatty acids. The method comprising reacting at least a portion of the oil with a polyalkylene polyamine or an imidazoline compound carrying both a poly-alkylene imine substituent and at least one primary amine group.

1 . A method of improving the low temperature properties of an oil comprising fatty acid alkyl esters derived from plant or animal materials, wherein at least 5% by weight of the fatty acid alkyl esters are derived from C 16 -C 22  saturated fatty acids, the method comprising reacting at least a portion of the oil with at least one compound having 3 or more nitrogen atoms comprising a polyalkylene polyamine or an imidazoline compound carrying both a poly-alkylene imine substituent and at least one primary amine group, at least one of which nitrogen atoms is present in the form of a primary amine group. 
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the polyalkylene polyamine has 5 or more nitrogen atoms. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the imidazoline compound is made by reacting a fatty acid or the methyl ester of a fatty acid with a polyalkylene polyamine. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the portion of the oil which is reacted with the compound having 3 or more nitrogen atoms is between 0.05-10% by weight of the oil. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the oil comprising fatty acid alkyl esters derived from plant or animal materials consists substantially of methyl or ethyl esters, preferably methyl esters. 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the at least 5% by weight of the fatty acid alkyl esters derived from C 16 -C 22  saturated fatty acids comprises methyl palmitate, methyl stearate or a mixture thereof. 
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein at least one fatty acid is co-reacted With the oil and the at least one compound having 3 or more nitrogen atoms, or is added to the oil. 
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein the at least one fatty acid comprises a mixture of fatty acids obtained from plant or animal material, preferably a mixture having in excess of 50% by weight of C 18  unsaturated fatty acids. 
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising adding an ethylene polymer to the oil.