INTEGRATED PROCESS FOR RECOVERY OF CAROTENOIDS AND TOCOTRIENOLS FROM OIL

摘要

A process and apparatus is disclosed for separation of fatty acid alkyl esters, carotenoids and tocotrienols from oil. Fatty acids in a vegetable oil are subjected to alcoholic esterification to form an ester-rich layer including fatty acid alkyl esters, carotenoids and tocotrienols. The ester-rich layer is exposed to solvolytic micellization to form a carotenoid-rich layer. The ester-rich layer is separated from the carotenoid-rich layer. The carotenoids in the carotenoid-rich layer are concentrated and can be adsorptively separated from the carotenoid-rich layer. Fatty acid alkyl esters are separated from the ester-rich layer to form a tocotrienol-rich layer. Individual tocotrienols in the tocotrienol-rich layer are adsorptively separated and concentrated.