Continuous process for the separation of mixtures of fatty substances of different melting points

Claim 1

A continuous process for the separation of mixtures of fatty alcohols into fatty alcohol mixtures of different melting points by the steps of continuously dispersing said mixture of fatty alcohols consisting of an oily phase and a solid phase in a recycling aqueous wetting agent solution at a temperature whereby a dispersion of liquid fatty alcohol and solid fatty alcohol particles is obtained, continuously separting said dispersion into two phases of different specific gravities, a lighter phase consisting substantially of liquid fatty alcohol fractions and a heavier phase consisting substantially of solid fatty alcohol particles dispersed in said aqueous wetting agent solution, continuously withdrawing said liquid fatty alcohol fractions, continuously separating said solid fatty alcohol particles from 10% to 70% by weight of said aqueous wetting agent solution, continuously withdrawing said separated aqueous wetting agent solution, continuously melting said solid fatty alcohol particles with the remaining aqueous phase and adhering wetting agent, in an aqueous phase, continuously separating said melted fatty alcohol particles containing little wetting agent from an aqueous phase enriched with wetting agent, continuously withdrawing said melted fatty alcohol particle, continuously recycling said aqueous phase enriched with wetting agent to said dispersing step and continuously replacing said withdrawn part of said recycling aqueous wetting agent solution with a fresh aqueous solution whereby the concentration of said recycling aqueous wetting agent solution is maintained substantially constant at said dispersing step.