Patent ID: 6706898
Filing Date: 2004-03-16
Classification: C07D

Abstract:
A method for separating a tocopherol from a first tocopherol admixture comprising at least one tocopherol, a first fatty acid, and an esterifying compound, comprising(a) heating the first tocopherol admixture comprising the tocopherol, the first fatty acid, and the esterifying compound for a sufficient time and temperature to substantially esterify the first fatty acid with the esterifying compound to produce a second tocopherol admixture comprising the tocopherol, esterified first fatty acid, and unesterified first fatty acid; (b) distilling the second tocopherol admixture for a sufficient time and temperature to substantially remove the unesterified first fatty acid from the second tocopherol admixture to produce a third tocopherol admixture comprising the tocopherol and the esterified first fatty acid, with substantially removed unesterified first fatty acid; (c) distilling the third tocopherol admixture for a sufficient time and temperature to substantially remove the tocopherol from the third tocopherol admixture to produce a fourth tocopherol admixture comprising the removed tocopherol and a non-tocol component; and (d) extracting the tocopherol from the fourth tocopherol admixture with an extraction solvent comprising a polar, organic solvent that is miscible with water to produce a two phase system comprising a first phase containing a majority of the extraction solvent and a second phase, wherein the selectivity of the extraction solvent for the tocopherol with respect to the non-tocol component is greater than unity, and removing the first phase from the second phase, with the proviso that the extraction solvent is not a neat alcohol, wherein step (b) can be conducted before step (c), or step (c) can be conducted before step (b), wherein steps (b) and (c) are conducted after step (a) and prior to step (d).