Refining method and apparatus

Claim 1

THE PROCESS OF REFINING A CRUDE GLYCERIDE OIL, WHICH COMPRISES MIST-MIXING THE OIL WITH A WATER-ADSORPTIVE AGENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF "SODIUM SILICATE," COLLOIDAL SILICA, AND MIXTURES THEREOF, AND WITH A CAUSTIC ALKALI SOLUTION WHOSE CONCENTRATION IS SUBSTANTIALLY WITHIN THE RANGE OF 20% TO 30% AND WHICH ACTS TO NEUTRALIZE THE FREE FATTY ACIDS PRESENT IN THE OIL TO FORM SOAPSTOCK, COLLECTING THE MIST MIXTURE ON A SURFACE FROM WHICH IT FLOWS AS A MIXTURE OF LIQUID OIL AND SOAPSTICK, IMPARTING TO THE OILSOAPSTOCK MIXTURE A TEMPERATURE SUBSTANTIALLY WITHIN THE RANGE OF 160* TO 200*F., AGITATING THE MIXTURE TO BRING THE OIL INTO INTIMATE CONTACT WITH THE WATER-ADSORPTIVE AGENT PRESENT IN THE SOAPSTOCK WHILE MAINTAINING THE TEMPERATURE OF THE MIXTURE AGAINST SUBSTANTIAL DECLINE, AND SEPARATING THE SOAPSTOCK FROM THE OIL, THE CAUSTIC ALKALI BEING USED IN AN AMOUNT IN SUCH EXCESS OF THAT NECESSARY TO NEUTRALIZE THE FREE FATTY ACIDS THAT SOME OF THE CAUSTIC ALKALI IS PRESENT AT THE TIME OF SEPARATION AND SAID AGENT BEING USED IN AN AMOUNT EFFECTIVE TO SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE THE NEUTRAL OIL RETAINED BY THE SOAPSTOCK AND TO RETARD THE SAPONIFICATION OF THE NEUTRAL OIL.