Patent ID: 7507847

Claim:
A process for the recovery of tocols from oils and fats, said process comprising of the steps of: a) liquid-liquid extraction of oils and fats with urea solution in methanol or ethanol or methanol-ethanol mixture; b) subjecting the alcoholic extract obtained in step (a) to temperature between 0 and −25° C.; c) separating of the solids and liquid obtained in step (b) by filtration; d) concentrating the filtrate obtained in step (c) by partial removal of solvent; e) adding a hydrocarbon solvent to the contents obtained in step (d), and separating the solids obtained from the hydrocarbon-methanol layers by filtration or decanting; f) separating the hydrocarbon layer by draining away the lower methanol layer, washing the hydrocarbon layer with water, and further separating the hydrocarbon solvent layer by draining away the water layer; g) removing solvent from the hydrocarbon layer obtained in step (f) by low vacuum distillation; h) distilling the contents obtained in step (g) at about 85-100° C., 0.1 Pa to remove free fatty acids as distillate; i) distilling the residue obtained in step (h) at about 100-170° C., 0.1 Pa to obtain tocotrienol concentrate as distillate; j) washing thoroughly the residue obtained in step (c) with methanol or ethanol or methanol-ethanol mixture; k) removing solvent from the alcoholic solution obtained in step (j); l) dissolving the contents obtained in step (k) in hydrocarbon solvent, washing the solution with water, and separating the hydrocarbon solvent layer by draining away the water layer; m) removing solvent from the hydrocarbon layer obtained in step (l) by low vacuum distillation; n) distilling the contents obtained in step (m) at about 85-100° C., 0.1 Pa to remove free fatty acids as distillate; and o) distilling the residue obtained in step (n) at about 100-170° C., 0.1 Pa to obtain tocotrienol concentrate as distillate.