Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

Cholesterol and other sterols are separated from fluid mixtures, especially foodstuffs such as egg yolk, using a surface-modified substantially insoluble carbonate salt which selectively adsorbs the sterol. The surface-modified carbonate is prepared by (a) treating a substantially insoluble carbonate salt with a sterol compound so that the sterol compound becomes adsorbed on the carbonate surface; (b) treating the sterol-modified carbonate with a surface-modifying agent, said surface-modifying agent having a reactive group capable of reacting with the surface of the carbonate, and an elongate hydrophobic portion, so that the surface of the carbonate not covered by the adsorbed sterol compound reacts with the surface-modifying agent; and (c) desorbing the sterol compound from the carbonate. A surface-modified carbonate prepared in this way may also be used to remove sterols from solvents (such as carbon dioxide) which have themselves been used to extract sterols from foodstuffs, thus avoiding the need to distil and condense the solvent before it is recycled to treat further batches of the foodstuff.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim