COUNTERCURRENT LIQUID/LIQUID EXTRACTION TO FRACTIONATE COMPLEX MIXTURES CONTAINING MEDIUM AND LONG CHAIN FATTY ACID TRIGLYCERIDES

摘要

Methods of liquid / liquid extraction against the current for fractionating complex triglyceride mixtures in order to selectively remove "light" impurities (predominantly MMM triglycerides) contained in the MML / MLM triglycerides, or selectively removing triglycerides MML / MLM contained in "heavy" impurities (predominantly MLL / LML and LLL triglycerides), wherein M represents a C6-C10 fatty acid residue or a mixture containing this fatty acid, and wherein L represents a residue of fatty acid C18-C24 or a mixture containing this fatty acid. For "light" impurities, passing an oil stream containing MMM triglycerides and MML / MLM against the flow of a solvent stream containing a polar solvent or a supercritical fluid that is partially miscible with the flow of oil to selectively remove MMM triglycerides. For "heavy" impurities, passing an oil stream containing MML / MLM triglycerides, MLL / LML and LLL against the flow of a solvent stream for selectively removing MML / MLM triglycerides.