Patent ID: 6057462
Filing Date: 2000-05-02
Classification: C07J,C11B,Y02W

Abstract:
A method for the isolation of sterols from sulfate pulping process tall oil pitch comprising the steps of:(a) saponifying the tall oil pitch;(b) extracting the neutral fraction from the saponified tall oil pitch;(c) blending a hydrocarbon solution of the neutrals with an alcohol solvent at a temperature greater than the crystallization temperature of sterol to produce a hydrocarbon/neutrals/alcohol solution;(d) adding water of a temperature higher than that of the hydrocarbon/neutrals/alcohol solution to separate into an upper organic phase and a lower alcohol/water phase;(e) removing the lower alcohol/water phase;(f) allowing the remaining upper organic phase to cool to a final temperature from about 20.degree. C. to about 30.degree. C. to produce sterol crystals;(g) recovering the sterol crystals from the cooled solution; and(h) washing the recovered sterol crystals with a hydrocarbon solvent to obtain a sterol yield of at least 60% and a sterol purity of at least 90%.