| abstract |
PCT No. PCT/EP97/02510 Sec. 371 Date Feb. 8, 1999 Sec. 102(e) Date Feb. 8, 1999 PCT Filed May 15, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO97/43362 PCT Pub. Date Nov. 20, 1997The present invention relates to a process of treating an oil, the process comprising contacting the oil with a polar solvent to extract at least one compound that is soluble in the solvent, and then separating the solvent containing the compound from the so treated oil. The oil is microbially derived, and extracted either from a fermentation broth or a filtrate thereof using hexane. The compound to be extracted is usually a sterol or a diglyceride. The solvent is ethanol having up to 5% water. The oil can contain a polyunsaturated fatty acid such as C18, C20 or C22 omega -3 or omega -6 fatty acid, such as arachidonic acid. |