Processes And Systems For Catalytic Manufacture Of Wax Ester Derivatives
Patent No. US11248245 (titled "Processes And Systems For Catalytic Manufacture Of Wax Ester Derivatives") was filed by Cargill Inc on Dec 19, 2014.
What is this patent about?
’245 is related to the field of transesterification of wax esters , specifically addressing the modification of wax esters derived from natural sources like jojoba oil. Wax esters, formed from fatty acids and fatty alcohols, are used in cosmetics and personal care products. Conventional transesterification methods, which alter the physical properties of these esters, often rely on chemical catalysts, leading to undesirable side reactions and degradation of beneficial components present in the original feedstock.
The underlying idea behind ’245 is to use enzymatic catalysis, specifically with lipases , to transesterify wax esters. This approach avoids the harsh conditions and side reactions associated with chemical catalysts. By using lipases, the process can be carried out at lower temperatures and ambient pressure, preserving valuable components like antioxidants, sterols, and volatile compounds naturally present in the wax ester feedstock, such as jojoba oil.
The claims of ’245 focus on a process involving a feedstock containing both jojoba wax esters and hydrogenated jojoba wax esters, where the hydrogenated portion constitutes 20% to 50% of the feedstock by weight. The feedstock is then contacted with a lipase to facilitate transesterification, resulting in a product with an improved oxidative stability index (OSI) compared to the original feedstock. This improvement in OSI is a key feature.
In practice, the enzymatic transesterification can be performed in a continuous reactor system, where the wax ester feedstock flows through one or more reactors containing immobilized lipases. This continuous process offers advantages over batch processing. The use of lipases allows for a more selective reaction, avoiding the formation of unwanted byproducts like methyl esters and free fatty alcohols, which can alter the desired properties of the final product. Furthermore, the process preserves the natural antioxidants present in the jojoba oil, contributing to the enhanced oxidative stability.
The enzymatic approach differentiates itself from traditional chemical methods by maintaining the integrity of the feedstock's natural components. While chemical transesterification often degrades or removes beneficial compounds, the lipase-catalyzed process preserves these elements, leading to a transesterified product with improved properties. Surprisingly, the OSI of the transesterified product is not only maintained but often increased, suggesting a synergistic effect of the enzymatic process. This results in a product with enhanced shelf life and performance characteristics, particularly in cosmetic and personal care applications.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the mid-2010s when ’245 was filed, chemical and enzymatic processes were commonly used for modifying fats, oils, and waxes. At a time when transesterification was typically implemented using chemical catalysts, enzymatic methods offered advantages such as milder reaction conditions and reduced byproduct formation. When hardware or software constraints made precise control of reaction parameters non-trivial, techniques for optimizing enzyme activity and stability were of interest.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner allowed the claims because amendments filed by the applicant addressed previous rejections. Specifically, the examiner withdrew rejections based on new matter, obviousness over prior art (Arquette and Steinke), and provisional double patenting. The examiner stated that a declaration showed that enzymatic transesterification of jojoba oil feedstock with a lipase results in a significantly higher Oxidative Stability Index (OSI) even without adding alcohol. The examiner also noted that the prior art did not teach the feedstock comprising hydrogenated jojoba wax esters at an amount of 20% to 50% by weight of the feedstock, contacting the feedstock with a lipase to catalytically transesterify the wax esters in the feedstock to form a transesterified product, and does not teach the oxidative stability index (OSI) of the transesterified product is greater than an OSI of the feedstock.
Claims
This patent has 5 claims, with claim 1 being independent. Independent claim 1 is directed to a process for transesterifying wax esters using a feedstock comprising jojoba wax esters and hydrogenated jojoba wax esters. Dependent claims 2-5 further define the composition of the feedstock and transesterified product.
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Description
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US11248245
- Application Number
- US14578075
- Filing Date
- Dec 19, 2014
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Jan 30, 2038
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents