Uop Lcc

W Brian Bedwell

Timothy J Barder

Steven P Johnson

An adsorptive separation process for separating sterols from a feed mixture, especially one that is acid-free, containing sterols, e.g., tan oil, wool fat, etc., which process comprises contacting the feed mixture with an adsorbent comprising magnesium silicate (Florisil), selectively adsorbing substantially all of the sterols to be separated to the substantial exclusion of the other components and thereafter recovering high purity sterols. The adsorbed sterols are desorbed with methyl-t-butyl ether (MtBE), which is superior, as a desorbent, to previously used aromatic liquids, e.g., toluene and chlorobenzene. An especially suitable acid-free feed is produced from crude tall oil, without the need for pitching, by a liquid-liquid extraction with DMSO and hexane solvents added to the top and bottom of the extraction column, respectively, and feed introduced at an intermediate zone.

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

W Brian Bedwell