| abstract |
A method to purify black liquor soap (BLS) from sulfur compounds is disclosed. In the BLS desulfurization method, a BLS composition is heated in an inert atmosphere and sulfur is removed via aqueous extractions with inorganic base in the absence of other chemicals such as brine, sulfate salts and carbonate salts. The purified BLS composition exhibits favorable properties, including reduced sulfur content, lower color, and improved odor characteristics. The resulting tall oil compositions, depitched tall oil compositions, tall oil distillation fractions, and products derived therefrom also show reduced sulfur content, lower color, and improved odor characteristics. |