Cognis Corporation

Carl Pickens

Stephen W Turner

Patrick M McCurry, Jr

Processes for purifying compounds are disclosed which include reacting (i) a mixture of at least one tocopherol compound or sterol compound, and an alcohol having from about 10 to 30 carbons with (i) one or more boron-containing compounds to form a second mixture of orthoborate esters, wherein the mole ratio of tocopherol, sterol and alcohol to boron is at least about 2.5:1; heating the second mixture to form a residue containing the orthoborate esters; contacting the residue with a compound capable of solvolyzing the orthoborate esters to form a third mixture including the boron-containing compound(s), the alcohol and the tocopherol and/or sterol compound(s); and recovering the tocopherol and/or sterol compound(s). Another process for purifying such compounds includes an activated carbon treatment, which may alternatively follow the other process steps; formation of borate esters; heating to remove low boiling point components; formation of a residue comprising the borate esters; contacting the residue with a compound capable of solvolyzing the borate esters; and separation of the remaining components. Compositions including mixtures of alkyl/tocopherol/sterol orthoborate esters are also disclosed.

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West Chester, OH, United States of America

Carl Pickens