Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the enrichment of methyl ricinoleate from castor oil methyl esters by liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) in presence of refined vegetable oils using an aqueous polar solvent. The invention provides an extraction of methyl ricinoleate by a non-destructive extraction method with good yields (75 to 90%) and purity (95 to 99%). The method consists of mixing castor oil methyl esters in a refined normal vegetable oil (feed) in a suitable proportion and selective extraction of methyl ricinoleate in a non-destructive manner by liquid-liquid extraction using a polar aqueous solvent, followed by de-solventization and drying of the solute to get enriched methyl ricinoleate fraction with good yields.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the enrichment of methyl ricinoleate from castor oil methyl esters by liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) in presence of refined vegetable oils using an aqueous polar solvent. The invention provides an extraction of methyl ricinoleate by a non-destructive extraction method with good yields (75 to 90%) and purity (95 to 99%). The method consists of mixing castor oil methyl esters in a refined normal vegetable oil (feed) in a suitable proportion and selective extraction of methyl ricinoleate in a non-destructive manner by liquid-liquid extraction using a polar aqueous solvent, followed by de-solventization and drying of the solute to get enriched methyl ricinoleate fraction with good yields.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved process for the preparation of biodiesel from crude vegetable oils especially Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) and Karanja (Pongamia pinnata). In the preset invention the bio-active constituents, fatty acids and polar materials are selectively removed from the crude oils by liquid-liquid extraction with a polar solvent into the solvent phase in a non-destructive manner in specially designed equipment either in a batch mode or continuous mode and the oil left as residue is amenable for direct transesterification. After transesterification, the glycerol phase is separated and the crude biodiesel is neutralized, purified by adsorption of undesirable constituents like the residual glycerol, gums, soap, salts etc over a bed of adsorbent like Celite thereby circumventing the conventional water washing step.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the isolation of oryzanols from rice bran oil soap stock by (a) saponifying the oil present in soap stock with an alkali followed by neutralisation of the excess alkali, (b) converting the soap stock into anhydrous, porous soap noodles, (c) extracting the soap noodles with an organic solvent, (d) crystallising the crude unsaponifiable matter to remove impurities, (e) subjecting the residue to column chromatography to obtain an oryzanol rich fraction, and (f) recrystallising the oryzanol rich fraction using an organic solvent to obtain pure oryzanol.