Recovery of tocopherols
First Claim
1. An evaporative process for the separation of fatty acid lower alkyl esters from a mixture additionally comprising tocopherols and sterols, said process comprising:
- introducing said mixture into a moderately heated zone of elevated temperature and reduced pressure, said zone containing multiple packing elements in an essentially continuous bed, said elevated temperature and reduced pressure being effective to provide within said continuous bed a first vapor phase enriched with respect to said mixture in alkyl fatty acid esters and a first liquid phase enriched with respect to said mixture in tocopherols and sterols;
removing liquid phase enriched in tocopherols and sterols from said continuous bed at a point gravitationally below the point of introduction of said mixture into said heated zone;
removing vapor phase enriched in alkyl fatty acid esters from said continuous bed at a point gravitationally above the point of introduction of said mixture into said heated zone;
applying said liquid phase enriched in tocopherols and sterols as a film to a highly heated surface in proximity with a zone of reduced vapor pressure to provide a second vapor phase enriched with respect to said liquid phase in alkyl fatty acid esters and a second liquid phase enriched with respect to said first liquid phase in tocopherols and sterols as a film in contact with said heated surface;
removing said vapor enriched in alkyl fatty acid esters from said zone and removing said film of said second liquid phase from said heated surface, said removing of said film being accomplished by mechanical agitation; and
removing said second liquid phase from proximity with said zone of reduced vapor pressure to an environment of essentially ambient temperature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Starting from a mixture containing tocopherol, fats and/or fat derivatives, more particularly fatty acids, and optionally sterol and/or sterol derivatives, the free fatty acids present in the mixture are esterified with an alcohol. The mixture is then transesterified with an alcohol in the presence of a basic catalyst. After the transesterification, the excess lower alcohol is distilled off from the reaction mixture. The transesterification catalyst and the glycerol present, if any, are removed and the fatty acid alkyl ester is distilled off from the mixture. Distillation of fatty acid alkyl esters can be accomplished with a packed column in sequence with a wiped film evaporator. The simultaneous recovery of tocopherol and sterol is possible. Tocopherols and sterols can be separated by the crystallization of sterols from a blend of organic solvents.
16 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An evaporative process for the separation of fatty acid lower alkyl esters from a mixture additionally comprising tocopherols and sterols, said process comprising:
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introducing said mixture into a moderately heated zone of elevated temperature and reduced pressure, said zone containing multiple packing elements in an essentially continuous bed, said elevated temperature and reduced pressure being effective to provide within said continuous bed a first vapor phase enriched with respect to said mixture in alkyl fatty acid esters and a first liquid phase enriched with respect to said mixture in tocopherols and sterols; removing liquid phase enriched in tocopherols and sterols from said continuous bed at a point gravitationally below the point of introduction of said mixture into said heated zone; removing vapor phase enriched in alkyl fatty acid esters from said continuous bed at a point gravitationally above the point of introduction of said mixture into said heated zone; applying said liquid phase enriched in tocopherols and sterols as a film to a highly heated surface in proximity with a zone of reduced vapor pressure to provide a second vapor phase enriched with respect to said liquid phase in alkyl fatty acid esters and a second liquid phase enriched with respect to said first liquid phase in tocopherols and sterols as a film in contact with said heated surface; removing said vapor enriched in alkyl fatty acid esters from said zone and removing said film of said second liquid phase from said heated surface, said removing of said film being accomplished by mechanical agitation; and removing said second liquid phase from proximity with said zone of reduced vapor pressure to an environment of essentially ambient temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A process for the separation of a portion of the alkyl fatty esters from a mixture additionally comprising tocopherols and sterols, said process comprising:
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applying said mixture as a film to a heated surface in proximity with a zone of reduced vapor pressure to provide a vapor phase enriched with respect to said liquid phase in alkyl fatty acid esters, said vapor phase being essentially free of tocopherols and sterols, and a liquid phase enriched with respect to said first liquid phase in tocopherols and sterols as a film in contact with said heated surface; removing said vapor enriched in alkyl fatty acid esters from said zone and removing said film of said liquid phase from said heated surface; and removing said liquid phase from proximity with said zone of reduced vapor pressure to an environment of essentially ambient temperature, wherein said liquid phase is collected in an amount of from about 30% to about 60% by weight of said mixture. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification