Continuous process for neutralizing fatty acids

Claim 1

IN A CONTINUOUS PROCESS OF NEUTRALIZING SOAPMAKING FATTY ACIDS TO PRODUCE DIRECTLY, WITHOUT A DRYING STEP, SOAP TO PREDETERMINED MOISTURE CONTENT BETWEEN ABOUT 12 PER CENT AND 27 PER CENT, THE STEPS OF: INTIMATELY MIXING PROPORTIONED STREAMS OF FATTY ACIDS AND OF AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF AN ALKALI IN THE PRESENCE OF A RECIRCULATED AND PRECOOLED STREAM OF SOAP PREVIOUSLY FORMED IN THE PROCESS, SAID AQUEOUS SOLUTION HAVING A CONCENTRATION SUCH THAT THE SOAP RESULTING FROM THE NEUTRALIZATION HAS SAID PREDETERMINED MOISTURE CONTENT BETWEEN ABOUT 12 PER CENT AND ABOT 27 PER CENT; AND REGULATING THE TEMPERTURE OF THE REACTANTS IN THE ZONE OF NEUTRALIZATION SO THAT THE SOAP AS FORMED, TOGETHER WITH THE RECIRCULATED SOAP, IS IN A PUMPABLE CONDITION, BETWEEN 130* F. AND 215* F., AND IS ABOVE THAT TEMPERATURE AT WHICH IT LOSES ITS PASTY COHESIVENESS AND BECOMES TOUGH AND RESISTANT TO FLOW AS IT APPROACHES COMPLETE SOLIDIFICATION, AND IS BELOW ITS ATMOSPHERIC BOILING POINT.