Abstract: A process is provided herein for the isolation and recovery of .beta.-sitosterol substantially free of .alpha.-sitosterol from the unsaponifiables obtained from crude soap skimmings or from a crude sterol mixture containing .beta.-sitosterol, .alpha.-sitosterol and campesterol. The starting material is treated with a solvent mixture containing an aromatic hydrocarbon, a polar organic solvent having the ability to form hydrogen bonds, and water. The aromatic hydrocarbon can be replaced by a mixture of an aromatic and an aliphatic hydrocarbon. When the starting material is dissolved the reaction product is precipitated, preferably by cooling the solution, whereafter it is separated from the mother liquor. The obtained product is essentially free of .alpha.-sitosterol.

Abstract: A process for the isolation and recovery of .beta.-sitosterol substantially free of .alpha.-sitosterol from the unsaponifiables obtained from crude soap skimmings or from a crude sterol mixture containing .beta.-sitosterol, .alpha.-sitosterol and campesterol. The starting material is treated with an inorganic or organic acid in an organic solvent, whereby .alpha.-sitosterol reacts with the acid giving rearrangement products. The solution is cooled and filtered or the solvent is distilled off, whereafter the obtained crude .beta.-sitosterol is recrystallized from an organic solvent, to yield the pure material.

Abstract: A process for the isolation of technical grade .beta.-sitosterol from the mixture of sterols in unsaponifiables obtained from crude soap skimmings. The unsaponifiables, usually called the neutral fraction, are dissolved in acetone, filtrated with active carbon, the acetone filtrate is concentrated, ethanol is added and, after cooling, the precipitated .beta.-sitosterol is centrifuged or filtered from the mixture.