Method for removing phosphorus-containing compounds from triglyceride-containing compositions

1. A method for removing phosphorus-containing compounds from triglyceride-containing compositions comprising the following steps:

a) bringing the triglyceride-containing composition into contact with at least one substance selected from organic acids, phosphoric acid, ethanolamines and solid adsorbents based on clay minerals, bleaching earths, aluminosilicates, silica gels, precipitated silicas and silicates;

b) adding H2O to the composition obtained according to step a);

c) separating the aqueous phase from the triglyceride-containing composition;

d) bringing the triglyceride-containing composition obtained from step c) into contact with at least one substance selected from organic acids, phosphoric acid, ethanolamine and solid adsorbents based on clay minerals, bleaching earths, aluminosilicates, silica gels, precipitated silicas and silicates;

wherein

i) step a) comprises bringing the triglyceride-containing composition into contact with at least one ethanolamine and step d) comprises bringing the triglyceride-containing composition into contact with at least an organic acid or at least one adsorbent, or

ii) step a) comprises bringing the triglyceride-containing composition into contact with at least one organic acid or at least one adsorbent and in step d) comprises bringing the triglyceride-containing composition into contact with at least one ethanolamine;

e) adding H2O to the composition obtained according to step d);

f) separating the aqueous phase from the triglyceride-containing composition.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein step a) and/or d) is carried out at a temperature of from 20 to 60° C.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein step a) and/or d) is carried out at a temperature of from 25 to 50° C.

4. The method according claim 1 , wherein the triglyceride-containing composition comprises soya oil, rape-seed oil, sunflower oil, palm oil, jatropha oil, linseed oil, canola oil, cotton-seed oil, pumpkin seed oil, coconut oil, rice germ oil, peanut oil, corn oil, olive kernel oil, jojoba oil, almond oil and/or algae oil.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, lactic acid, formic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid and mixtures thereof.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the solid adsorbent is selected from the group consisting of aluminosilicates, aluminium oxides, hydrous aluminium oxides, silica gel-based compositions, bleaching earths and mixtures thereof.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the ethanolamine is selected from the group consisting of monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine and mixtures thereof.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the organic acid is in the range of from 0.01 to 5 wt.-% (relative to the weight of the triglyceride-containing composition).

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the adsorbent is in the range of from 0.1 to 5 wt.-% (relative to the weight of the triglyceride-containing composition).

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the ethanolamine is in the range of from 0.01 to 3.0 wt.-% (relative to the weight of the triglyceride-containing composition).

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein step a) and/or d) is carried out at atmospheric pressure or under vacuum.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the triglyceride-containing composition is brought into contact according to step a) with ethanolamine.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the triglyceride-containing composition is brought into contact according to step d) with an organic acid, or a solid adsorbent.