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2025 AOCS Posters

Processing

Processing Poster Session

Preparation of high-purity phytosterol from vegetable oil deodorization distillate using molecular distillation and solvent crystallization

Tuesday, April 29, 2025
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM PST
Room: Expo Hall
Abstract: Deodorization distillate, a by-product obtained from the deodorization step in the refining process of corn oil, contains high levels of free fatty acids (60-80%) and acylglycerols (10-20%), as well as minor constituents such as sterol, tocols, and squalene, which exbibit biological activities. This study aimed to prepare high-purity phytosterol from corn oil deodorization distillate using molecular distillation and solvent crystallization. Prior to molecular distillation, ethanolysis was carried out to convert fatty acids in the deodorization distillate to fatty acid ethyl esters, using sulfuric acid as a catalyst. In the first step, phytosterol was concentrated in the residue after distillation of esterified deodorization distillate using a short-path distillation apparatus. The effects of temperature and vacuum were investigated within temperature and vacuum ranges of 120 to 140oC and 1 to 0.01 mmHg, respectively. Phytosterol was concentrated up to 50% in the residue from 6% in the esterified deodorization distillate under the optimum distillation conditions of 130oC and 0.01 mmHg. In the second step, high-purity phytosterol ( >98%) was achieved from the distillation residue by solvent crystallization.