Process for preparing an oleogel

1. A process comprising:

(a) feeding ethylcellulose to the feed zone of an extruder, the extruder having a plurality of oil feed ports along its length;

(b) feeding at least one oily feed material selected from triacylglycerol oils and triacylglycerol fats into at least one of the oil feed ports;

(c) mixing the oily feed material with the ethylcellulose to form a substantially homogeneous mixture;

(d) cooling the mixture to form an oleogel.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein weight ratio of oily feed material to ethylcellulose is from 99:1 to 75:25.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the oily feed material is edible.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the process is continuous.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the temperature in the melting zone of the extruder is in the range of from 100 to 200° C.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the oleogel is edible.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein a portion of the total oily feed material is fed into a first oil feed port, and a second portion of the total oily feed material is fed into a second oil feed port that is located downstream from the first feed port.

8. The process of claim 1 wherein the oleogel comprises an antioxidant.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein a first oil feed port for the oily feed material is located at a point on extruder where the ethyl cellulose has at least partially melted.

10. The process of claim 9 , wherein the ethyl cellulose has fully melted.

11. The process of claim 1 wherein the process is conducted under an inert atmosphere at the extruder inlet and outlet.

12. The process of claim 1 , wherein essentially no oxygen is in the barrel of the extruder.