| abstract |
The process for recovery of plant sterols and tocopherols from deodorization distillates formed during chemical or physical refining of vegetable oils consists of the following steps: free fatty acids are removed from the deodorization distillate by vacuum distillation or by continuation solvent saponification, after the removal of free fatty acids, the received material is reacted with an aromatic carboxylic acid anhydride at a temperature of 50-150° C., under reduced pressure, after the treatment with anhydride, tocopherols are removed from the mixture, and crystalline free sterols are recovered from the distillation residue containing sterol esters, di- and triglycerides by transesterification. |