Process and apparatus for saponification reactions, and the like

Claim 1

A process for saponification reactions, and the like in liquid form, comprising the steps of: (a) sequentially feeding liquid saponifyable ingredients from separate ingredient supply means in stoichiometric amounts to a cone-bottomed reactor vessel providing a bottom outlet and a feed pipe inlet, the ingredients being fed to the reactor vessel at a rate determined by means including a load cell and timed volume feed means; (b) continuously recycling the ingredients through the reactor vessel in a recycling circuit consisting of a recycling pump connected to the bottom outlet of the reactor vessel and the feed pipe inlet, to effect mixing and reaction of the ingredients in the feed pipe and the reactor vessel below the surface of the ingredients, and produce soap in liquid form; (c) controlling an exothermic reaction temperature rise and diluting the ingredients by adding water; (d) diverting the recycling of the liquid soap from the reactor vessel to a storage vessel; and, (e) controlling feed rates, feed amounts, mixing and reaction times, and diverting times of the ingredients by microprocessor means; (f) the said process steps having a combined time of about 2-5 minutes, at a reaction temperature of about 70° F.-200° F.