Fractional Distillation Optimization of Crude Tall Oil for Recovery of Rosin and Fatty Acid Fractions

Abstract

Crude tall oil, a byproduct of the kraft pulping industry, represents an important renewable feedstock containing valuable rosin acids, fatty acids, and neutral compounds suitable for diverse industrial applications. The present study investigates the optimization of fractional distillation of crude tall oil for efficient recovery of rosin and fatty acid fractions under controlled processing conditions. The research focuses on evaluating the influence of distillation temperature, operating pressure, reflux ratio, feed composition, and column configuration on separation efficiency, product purity, and thermal stability of recovered fractions. Experimental analysis demonstrates that optimized fractional distillation conditions significantly enhance the selective separation of rosin and fatty acid components while minimizing thermal degradation and product losses. Results indicate that vacuum-assisted distillation and controlled temperature profiles improve volatility differences between fractions, resulting in higher recovery efficiency and improved product quality. The study further reveals that appropriate reflux control and residence time management contribute to stable distillation performance and enhanced fractionation accuracy. Characterization of recovered products confirmed the presence of high-purity rosin acids and fatty acid fractions suitable for applications in adhesives, coatings, surfactants, lubricants, and bio-based chemical manufacturing. Comparative assessment with conventional separation methods highlights the advantages of optimized fractional distillation, including reduced energy consumption, improved operational efficiency, and scalability for industrial processing.