# US 12,760,240 B2 · Method for fractionating a shea extract > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,760,240 B2 - Document ID: US12760240B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/280,705 - Filed: 2022-03-14 - Published: 2024-05-16 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-03-12 - Assignees: Biosynthis - Applicants: Biosynthis - Inventors: Thierry Bernoud - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12760240B2 ## CPC - C11B 7/0025: {in solvents containing oxygen in their molecule} - C11B: PRODUCING, e.g. BY PRESSING RAW MATERIALS OR BY EXTRACTION FROM WASTE MATERIALS, REFINING OR PRESERVING FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES, e.g. LANOLIN, FATTY OILS OR WAXES; ESSENTIAL OILS; PERFUMES (drying-oils C09F) ## Abstract A method of fractionating a shea extract includes: mixing and homogenization of shea butter using a solvent system having at least one oxoester of formula I, in which R1 is selected from the group made of linear or branched alkyls having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R2, R3, and R4, which are identical or different, are selected from the group made of the hydrogen atom or linear or branched alkyls having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and n is a natural number between 1 and 4; obtaining a homogeneous mixture; cooling of the mixture; and filtration and removal of the solvent system in order to recover the olein and stearin fractions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of fractionating a shea extract, comprising at least the following steps: a) mixing and homogenization of shea butter using a solvent system comprising at least one oxoester of formula I, in which R1 is selected from the group consisting of linear or branched alkyls comprising from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; R2, R3, and R4, which are identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atom or linear or branched alkyls comprising from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and and n is a natural number between 1 and 4, b) obtaining a homogeneous mixture, c) cooling of the mixture, d) filtration and removal of the solvent system in order to recover the olein and stearin fractions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein in the homogeneous mixture obtained in step b) is defined by the ratio Y such that: Y = percent ⁢ by ⁢ weight ⁢ of ⁢ shea ⁢ extract percent ⁢ by ⁢ weight ⁢ of ⁢ the ⁢ solvent ⁢ system no more than 1/1. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the solvent system has a flash point of less than or equal to 100° C. as measured according to the ATSM D93 standard. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the solvent system has a boiling temperature of less than or equal to 210° C. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the solvent system comprises at least one oxoester of formula II: in which R1 is selected from the group consisting of linear or branched alkyls comprising from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R2, R3, and R4, which are identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atom or linear or branched alkyls comprising from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and and n is a natural number between 1 and 4. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the solvent system comprises at least one oxoester of formula III: R1 is selected from the group consisting of linear or branched alkyls comprising from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R2 and R3, which are identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atom, methyl group, or ethyl group; R4 is selected from the group consisting of linear or branched alkyls comprising from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; and n is a natural number between 1 and 3. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the solvent system comprises at least one oxoester of formula IV: R1 is selected from the group consisting of linear or branched alkyls comprising from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; R2 and R3 are a hydrogen atom; R4 is a methyl group; and n is equal to 1. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the solvent system comprises at least one oxoester of formula V: R1 is selected from the group consisting of linear or branched alkyls comprising from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R2 and R3 are a hydrogen atom; R4 is a methyl group; and n is equal to 1. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the solvent system has an oxoester content of between 70 and 100% relative to the total volume of the solvent system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the solvent system further comprises at least one alkene. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the solvent system further comprises at least one cyclic alkene. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the cyclic alkene is selected from the group comprising the cyclic alkenes having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms, alone or as mixtures. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the solvent system further comprises limonene (CAS 5989-27-5). ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the solvent system further comprises at least one alkane. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the solvent system further comprises at least one volatile alkane. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein the volatile alkane is selected from the group comprising the linear or branched alkanes having from 10 to 12 carbon atoms, alone or as mixtures. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein the volatile alkane is selected from the group comprising the linear or branched bioalkanes having from 10 to 12 carbon atoms, alone or as mixtures. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the solvent system further comprises a cyclic alkane or an alkane which comprises at least one ring. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method as set forth in claim 18, wherein the alkane comprising at least one ring is pinane (CAS 473-55-2). ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method as set forth in claim 18, wherein the alkane comprising at least one ring is p-menthane (CAS 99-82-1). ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the solvent system further comprises a branched alkane having 10 carbon atoms. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the solvent system has an oxoester content of at least 25% relative to the total volume of the solvent system. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the solvent system is a solvent mixture which further comprises an ethyl lactate. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the elimination of the solvent system makes it possible to eliminate at least 99.9% of the solvent system relative to the total volume of the solvent system. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the solvent system comprises at least one volatile alkane and one ethyl levulinate. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the solvent system comprises at least one volatile alkane and one butyl levulinate. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the solvent system comprises a branched alkane having 10 carbon atoms and an ethyl levulinate.