Abstract: Processes for recovering phytosterols are described. The processes comprise: (a) providing a liquid mixture containing a phytosterol, methanol, and one or more additional compounds, wherein the methanol is present in an amount of from 25 to 75% by weight, based on the phytosterol; (b) cooling the mixture to form phytosterol crystals; and (c) separating the phytosterol crystals from the remainder of the mixture.

Abstract: Processes for recovering phytosterols are described. The processes comprise: (a) providing a liquid mixture containing a phytosterol, methanol, and one or more additional compounds, wherein the methanol is present in an amount of from 25 to 75% by weight, based on the phytosterol; (b) cooling the mixture to form phytosterol crystals; and (c) separating the phytosterol crystals from the remainder of the mixture.

Abstract: Carotene is recovered from a native fat or oil in five process steps in an economical industrial process. The native fat or oil is catalytically reacted in known manner with an alkanol containing up to 4 carbon atoms to form fatty acid alkyl ester and glycerol. The ester phase of the reaction mixture is subjected to distillation to remove the fatty acid alkyl ester. The distillation residue obtained in the second process step is saponified, carotene is extracted from the product obtained in the third process step and the extract phase is concentrated by evaporation. A yield of at least about 80% is achieved. At the same time, a fatty acid alkyl ester suitable for further processing to fatty alcohol is provided.

Abstract: A process for preparing diglycerol in high concentrations and high yields by partially reacting glycerol in the presence of an alkaline catalyst to form a reaction mixture containing from 10 to 15% by weight of diglycerol and separating the unreacted glycerol from the reaction mixture in a wiped film or short path first distillation zone at a reduced pressure of 0.5 to 5 mbar and distilling a bottoms product from the first distillation zone in a second distillation zone which is a short path distillation zone at a pressure of 0.05 to 0.3 mbar to obtain a second bottom product containing at least 90% by weight diglycerol. Diglycerol of higher purity can be obtained by recovering diglycerol as a distillate from a third distillation zone.

Abstract: A process is provided for simultaneously recovering tocopherol and sterol from a mixture containing tocopherol, fats and/or fat derivatives, more particularly fatty acids, and sterol and/or sterol derivatives, more particularly from a steamer distillate of natural oils and fats. The steps of said process comprise:free fatty acids present in the mixture are esterified with a lower alcohol, preferably methanol, 0.4 to 1.6 and more particularly 1 to 1.