METHOD FOR EXTRACTING INTERNAL LIPIDS FROM WOOL USING SUPERCRITICAL FLUIDS

摘要

The invention relates to a method for extracting internal lipids from wool that is substantially free of lanolin, comprising the use of a fluid under supercritical conditions and an agent that can change the polarity of said fluid, selected from methanol and/or ethanol. According to the operating conditions of the invention, the temperature is between 40º C and 120º C and the pressure is between 120 bars and 330 bars. The polarity-changing agent represent between 3 % and 15 % expressed as volume/volume. The inventive method can be used to obtain internal lipids from wool, one of the most significant components of of which are ceramides which can be used in compositions intended to protect human skin against environmental damage.