Patent ID: 6033714
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: C07D

Abstract:
A process for separating isoflavone fractions in an aqueous plant starting material, said process comprising the steps of:(a) heating an aqueous plant starting material to a constant temperature selected on a basis of an aqueous solubility for at least one desired isoflavone fraction that is to be recovered;(b) passing the heated starting material of step (a) through an ultrafiltration membrane to obtain a permeate, the membrane having a cut-off which passes said at least one isoflavone fraction;(c) treating the permeate with an adsorptive material;(d) washing the material of step (c) in water;(e) eluting said at least one adsorbed isoflavone fraction from the water-washed adsorptive material of step (d) with aqueous alcohol;(f) evaporating the aqueous alcohol from a stream used during the elution of step (e) in order to promote the crystallization of said at least one isoflavone fraction; and(g) separating the crystallized at least one isoflavone fraction from the stream of step (f).