Preparation of sterol and stanol-esters

摘要

The present invention provides a method for the direct esterification of stanols and sterols with fatty acids to form stanol/sterol-esters. The method provides a synthetic route that is amenable to large scale production of the esters in high yields. A preferred embodiment employs a food grade process free of organic solvents or mineral acids, does not produce or use non-food grade products and is substantially free of the use of a catalyst.