PROCESS FOR REMOVING SUGAR AND/OR OIL FROM LECITHIN

摘要

An improved lecithin product is provided by a process for extracting oil and/or sugar from crude lecithin. The improved lecithin product has up to 75 wt.%, phospholipids, and an oil and sugar content of about 10 wt.% or less. The improved lecithin product may have acetone insolubles content of about 72, and sugar content of less than 1.0 wt.%. The process provided involves extracting oil and/or sugar from crude lecithin using blends of ethanol and water in two extraction steps. The method includes: providing a crude lecithin material; mixing the crude lecithin material with a blend of ethanol and water in a first extraction step; collecting the residue from the first extraction step; mixing the residue from the first extraction step with a blend of ethanol and water in a second extraction; and collecting the residue from the second extraction process as an improved lecithin product.