Method for the prepparation of phytosterols from tall oil pitch

A method of preparing phytosterols from tall oil pitch containing steryl esters, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) converting said steryl esters to free phytosterols while in said pitch to produce a modified pitch containing said free phytosterols;
• (b) distilling said modified pitch in a first evaporator to remove light ends from said modified pitch and produce a bottom fraction containing said free phytosterols;
• (c) distilling only said bottom fraction in a second evaporator to produce a light phase distillate containing said free phytosterols;
• (d) re-distilling only said light phase distillate to enhance the concentration of free phytosterols in said light phase distillate;
• (e) dissolving only said re-distilled light phase distillate in a solvent comprising an alcohol to produce a solution containing said free phytosterols;
• (f) cooling said solution to produce a slurry with said free phytosterols crystallized in said slurry;
• and,
• (g) washing and filtering said slurry to isolate said crystallized phytosterols.