Raw materials for these versatile new esters are inexpensive and plentiful. A promising process involves reaction of sucrose monoester with excess methyl ester to form a high level polyester. Addition of solvent and excess sugar gives the monoester in good yield

A new process, based on micro‐emulsion technology, has been developed for the production of sucrose esters of fatty acids. Sucrose dissolved in propylene glycol, methyl stearate, sodium stearate, and catalyst (K2CO3) are combined to form a transparent emulsion and interacted. The system remains transparent throughout the distillation of the propylene glycol, indicating the formation of a micro dispersion of sucrose. Upon completion of the distillation all of the methyl stearate is converted to sucrose stearate. Starting with a 1.5:1.0:0.9 molar ratio of sucrose, methyl stearate, and sodium stearate, the reaction product, after purification, is 85% sucrose monostearate, 15% sucrose distearate.

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Summary Improvements in the method of manufacture of the sugar esters are described. The use of a turbulent‐film evaporator for removal of product methanol reduces reaction time in batch operation from 15 to 3 hrs. The presence of trace quantities of water inhibits diester formation and permits recovery of better than 90% monoester without extensive purification.

Conclusion A product corresponding to sucrose monolaurate was prepared by the alcoholysis of methyl laurate with sucrose. This product appears to be a mixture, with the principal component having the lauroyl radical at the 6‐position of the glucose portion.