Method for refining squalene produced by microalgae

摘要

The invention relates to a method for preparing a composition that is very rich in squalene produced by fermentation of micro-organisms. The method is characterized in that it comprises a purification step selected from the group including: supercritical CO2 extraction in a multi-stage counter-current fractionation column with extract reflux, and short-path molecular distillation.

主权项

1. A method for preparing a composition with a squalene content above 95 wt % produced by fermentation of a microalgae belonging to the family Thraustochytriales, wherein said method comprises the following steps:
a) preparing a biomass of said microalgae, b) treating the biomass so as to obtain a crude oil containing at least 10 wt % of squalene, c) optionally refining the crude oil thus obtained by a sequence of steps of degumming, deacidification, bleaching and deodorizing, d) extracting the squalene by “short-path” molecular distillation so as to obtain a light fraction having a squalene content above 60 wt %, e) refining this light fraction by a sequence of steps of saponification, two-phase separation, washing, bleaching and deodorizing, so as to obtain a raffinate having a squalene content between 95 and 100%, and f) collecting the squalene composition thus obtained.