PURPOSE: To separate and purify the titled compound useful as a base material for cosmetics and raw material for medicines, etc. industrially in high yield, by dissolving a deodorization distillate formed as a by-product in the deodorization step of a fat or oil in an aromatic solvent, removing the resultant insoluble free sterol, and adding a saturated aliphatic lower alcohol thereto.
CONSTITUTION: A deodorization distillate formed as a by-product in the deodorization step of a fat or oil is dissolved in an aromatic solvent, preferably toluene or xylene, in an amount of 1W3 times of that of the distillate under heating, and the resultant solution is slowly cooled to a temperature, e.g. 5W10°C, to deposite primarity free sterol, which is then removed. A 1W3C saturated aliphatic alcohol is then added thereto to deposite only the sterol ester as a secondary deposit. The above-mentioned operation is repeated to further recrystallize the sterol ester and give the aimed compound in high purity (≥97%).
NAKAZATO MASATO
SADA TAKUO
