PROCESS FOR THE ISOLATION OF PHYTOSTEROLS FROM NEUTRAL SUBSTANCES USING HYDROCARBON AND ALCOHOL BASED SOLVENT SYSTEMS

摘要

A method for separating sterols from neutral substances containing the sterols, the method comprising: a) providing a hydrocarbon fraction containing the neutral substances; b) subjecting the hydrocarbon fraction to a first purification step to obtain a crude sterol product; c) subjecting the crude sterol product to a second purification step to obtain a solid product enriched in sterols; and d) optionally subjecting the solid product enriched in sterols to a further purification step, wherein said further purification step comprises at least one of the following steps: crystallization, washing and recrystallization, wherein the method optionally comprises one or more intermediate washing steps between any of the steps (a) through (d), and wherein at least one of the steps (b) through (d) is carried out using a first solvent system comprising a hydrocarbon and at least another of the steps (b) through (d) is carried out using a second solvent system comprising a C1-C6 alkanol, wherein the second solvent system is more polar than the first solvent system.