PURPOSE: To economically obtain a vitamin K condensate in a high concentration ratio by a mild method by extracting a deodorized distillation product containing vitamin K produced as a by-product in a purification process of vegetable oils and fats with an alcohol and then treating the extract with an active carbon.
CONSTITUTION: A deodorized distillate containing vitamin K as a by-product in purification process of vegetable oils and fats such as soybean oil or rape oil containing vitamin K is extracted with an alcohol such as ethanol. Then the resultant extract is brought into contact with active carbon to absorb vitamin K. Thereafter, the vitamin-absorbed active carbon is washed with an alcohol and further the active carbon is mixed with a solvent having low polarity and filtered or passed through a column to provide the objective fraction in which natural vitamin K is concentrated. By the method, not only vitamin K1 but also vitamin K2 can be recovered. The vitamin K concentrate can be used as an agent for increasing the content of vitamin K in standardized powder milk, edible oils and fats and other foods.
SUGAWA YUUKO
OTANI YUTAKA
SATO TOSHIRO
FUJIWARA TAKAKO
