Patent ID: 7575767

Claim:
A method of extraction of phytosterols, squalene and vitamin E from crude palm oil comprising the steps of: a) conversion of the crude palm oil into palm oil methyl esters; b) performing three stages of short path distillation on the crude palm oil methyl esters obtained in step a) to yield a phytonutrient concentrate; c) saponification of the phytonutrient concentrate from step b) to give a saponified product; d) crystallization of phytosterols obtained in step c); and e) solvent partitioning of vitamin E and squalene from the remaining saponified product following said crystallization; wherein each of the three stages of short path distillation produces a distillate and a residue and wherein the third stage short path distillation is carried out on the distillate produced in the second stage short path distillation.