PROCESS FOR REMOVING OIL FROM RAW LECITHIN

摘要

The present invention discloses a process for recovering lecithin from oil- and lecithin-containing mixtures by extraction with an extractant comprising at least one hydrocarbon; the process is characterized by conducting the extraction with one or more C3- or C4-hydrocarbons under conditions at which the extractant forms a solution of low viscosity with the lecithin and the extraction mixture divides into an oil-enriched liquid phase and a lecithin-enriched liquid phase, separating the two phases, and recovering through separation of the extractant substantially lecithin-free oil from the oil-enriched phase as well as substantially oil-free pure lecithin from the lecithin-enriched phase.