GB547324A - A process for the recovery of sterols - Google Patents

Abstract

547,324. Extracting sterols. ASCH, H. Dec. 20, 1940, Nos. 17937/40 and 111/41. [Class 2 (iii)] Sterols are recovered from fats by a process which comprises splitting the fats, removing the glycerol, distilling the remainder by low temperature low pressure distillation to remove the fatty acids and leave as a residue the sterols which are then extracted from such residue by one of the known methods for the extraction of sterols. Methods for extracting the sterols which are particularly referred to comprise subjecting the residue one or more times to a repeated cycle of splitting, removal of glycerol, and low temperature low pressure distillation followed by working up by saponification with alkali and extraction with a solvent. Alternatively the residue may be subjected to saponification with caustic in methyl alcohol solution followed by filtration of the soap solution. Finally in the case where an aqueous caustic saponification has been used, salts such as calcium chloride may be added to precipitate the soap in insoluble form. In examples (1) Linseed oil is split in an autoclave at 150 pounds steam pressure using zinc oxide as a catalyst, the glycerol is removed and the fatty acid removed by a low temperature low pressure distillation and the sterols extracted ; (2) Soya bean oil is split as in example (1) and worked up in a similar manner, the splitting and distillation being repeated until substantially all the fatty acids have been removed.