Methods for extracting lipids from diary products using a near critical phase fluid

摘要

A method for extracting lipids from a dairy product or a diary process stream in a continuous manner comprises the steps of: a) contacting the dairy product or dairy process stream with and an ether based solvent that is gaseous at room temperature and that is partially miscible with water, the ether based solvent being at a near critical temperature and pressure to produce a near critical fluid phase containing lipids; b) separating the near critical fluid phase from the diary product or dairy process stream to produce a substantially defatted dairy product or dairy process stream wherein the diary the product or diary process stream has a moisture content of greater than 75% c) reducing the pressures of the near critical fluid phase to recover the lipids. Preferably the solvent is a dimethyl ether.