Purification of tocopherols
US4550183A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 2, 1984 |
| Grant date | Oct 29, 1985 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 2, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC07D311/72
- WIPO fieldOrganic fine chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
This invention relates to the purification and concentration of tocopherol compounds from an organic feed material containing these compounds. A sufficient amount of caustic methanol is used to contact a tocopherol-containing organic material whereby two phases are formed; one of which is tocopherol-enriched caustic methanol. The phases are separated and the caustic is neutralized. The tocopherol is then recovered from the tocopherol-enriched methanol. One way of recovery is by adding a sufficient amount of water, causing the tocopherol to form a separate phase, which can then be removed in this more purified, concentrated form. Alternatively, the tocopherol can be isolated by removal of the methanol by distillation after acidic neutralization, and then washing the tocopherol with water to remove the salt resulting from neutralization.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.