Patent ID: 6224717
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: C07D

Abstract:
A method for separating a tocotrienol from a first tocol admixture comprising at least one tocotrienol and at least one tocapherol, a first fatty acid, and an esterifying compounds comprising(a) heating the first tocol admixture comprising the tocotrienol, 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 tocol admixturecomprising the tocotrienol, the tocopherol, esterified first fatty acid, and unesterified first fatty acid;(b) distilling the second tocol admixture for a sufficient time and temperature to substantially remove the unesterified first fatty acid from the second tocol admixture to produce a third tocol admixture comprising the tocotrienol the esterified first fatty acid, and the tocopherol, with substantially removed unesterified first fatty acid;(c) distilling the third tocol admixture for a sufficient time and temperature to substantially remove the tocotrienol and the tocopherol from the third tocol admixture to produce a fourth tocol admixture comprising the removed tocotrienol, the tocopherol, and anon-tocol component; and(d) extracting the tocotrienol from the fourth tocol 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 tocotrienol with respect to the tocopherol 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).