Methods of separating a corn fiber lipid fraction from corn fiber

Abstract

In one aspect, the invention provides a method of separating a corn fiber lipid fraction having phytosterol esters and phytosterols wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a mixture of unground corn fiber and water; (b) separating the liquid from the corn fiber, thereby providing a water wet corn fiber; and (c) extracting the water wet corn fiber with at least one polar organic solvent, thereby providing a corn fiber lipid fraction/polar organic solvent solution having phytosterol esters and phytosterols.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of separating a corn fiber lipid fraction having phytosterol esters and phytosterols wherein the method comprises the steps of: 
 a. providing a mixture of unground corn fiber and water;    b. separating the liquid from the corn fiber, thereby providing a water wet corn fiber; and    c. extracting the water wet corn fiber with at least one polar organic solvent, thereby providing a corn fiber lipid fraction/polar organic solvent solution having phytosterol esters and phytosterols.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the organic solvent comprises methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, acetone, ethyl acetate, methyl isobutyl ketone, methyl ethyl ketone, or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the organic solvent comprises isopropyl alcohol, acetone, ethyl acetate, or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent extraction step is conducted at a temperature of from about 0° C. to about 115° C. for from about 1 to about 600 min.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent extraction step is conducted at a temperature of from about 20° C. to about 80° C. for from about 10 to about 60 min.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water wet corn fiber contains from about 15% to about 85% water based on dry weight of the corn fiber.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water wet corn fiber contains from about 25% to about 65% water based on dry weight of the corn fiber.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising separating the corn fiber lipid fraction from the organic solvent solution wherein the phytosterol and phytosterol esters are separated with the corn fiber lipid fraction.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising separating phytosterol esters and phytosterols from the corn fiber lipid fraction and, optionally, separating the phytosterol esters and phytosterols from each other.