ISOLATION AND PURIFICATION OF STEROLS FROM NEUTRALS FRACTION OF TALL OIL PITCH BY DIRECT CRYSTALLIZATION, DUAL PHASE

摘要

Isolation of the sterol component of the neutrals fraction of saponified tall oil pitch is disclosed. Sterol isolation is accomplished by a liquid-liquid extraction from the tall oil pitch-derived neutrals, resulting in a hydrocarbon (preferably heptane) phase at a relatively high temperature (preferably greater than 50 °C) to which small amounts of an alcohol solvent, preferably methanol, is added. To the hydrocarbon/alcohol/neutrals solution is then added water of a higher temperature, preferably 60-70 °C to result in the formation of two separate phases. The blended solution is allowed to cool slowly, with agitation, to facilitate crystallization of sterols. The sterols are isolated by filtration and then washed with hydrocarbon solvent to result in high yield and high purity.