ONE-STAGE AND TWO-STAGE SUPERCRITICAL FLUID EXTRACTIONS OF CAROTENES CONCENTRATE, VITAMIN E CONCENTRATE AND OTHER MINOR COMPONENTS CONCENTRATES

摘要

THE PRESENT INVENTION RELATES TO ONE-STAGE AND TWO-STAGE SUPERCRITICAL FLUID EXTRACTIONS (SFES) OF CAROTENES CONCENTRATE, VITAMIN E CONCENTRATE AND OTHER MINOR COMPONENTS CONCENTRATES SUCH AS SQUALENE CONCENTRATE AND PHYTOSTEROLS CONCENTRATE FROM CAROTENES AND VITAMIN E CONTAINING NATURAL OILS AND FATS INCLUDING PALM OIL AND OTHER VEGETABLE OILS. THE SFES AS DESCRIBED HAVE MANY ADVANTAGES. THE PROCESS INVOLVES ONLY A SIMPLE STEP IN THE ESTERIFICATION OF THE NATURAL OILS AND FATS AND ONE SINGLE STEP OR TWO STEPS IN SFES. THE SUPERCRITICAL CARBON DIOXIDE WHICH IS ONE OF THE SUPERCRITICAL FLUIDS WHICH CAN BE USED IS NON-FLAMMABLE, NON-TOXIC AND NON-HAZARDOUS. THE SFES LEAVE NO SOLVENT RESIDUE ARE ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY.