Processes for selective extraction of unsaponifiable materials from renewable raw materials by liquid-liquid extraction in the presence of a cosolvent

A method for extracting an unsaponifiable fraction from a solid renewable raw material comprising fats, and in particular lipids functionalized with one or more function(s) chosen from hydroxyl, epoxide, ketone, thiol, aldehyde, ether and amine functions, comprising the following steps:

• a) optional dehydration possibly preceded or followed with a conditioning of the renewable raw material,
• b) extraction of the fats from the raw material optionally dehydrated and optionally conditioned to obtain an oil,
• c) concentration of the oil resulting from step b) so as to obtain a mixture enriched in unsaponifiable fraction,
• d) liquid-liquid extraction of the mixture enriched in unsaponifiable fraction in the presence of at least one polar organic solvent and at least one non-polar cosolvent immiscible with said polar organic solvent, leading to the formation of an organic polar phase enriched in lipids functionalized with one or more function(s) chosen from hydroxyl, epoxide, ketone, thiol, aldehyde, ether and amine functions,
• and optionally comprising the following steps:
• e) saponification of the polar organic phase, optionally preceded, accompanied or followed with a heat treatment at a temperature higher than or equal to 75° C., preferably higher than or equal to 80° C.,
• f) extraction of the unsaponifiable fraction from the saponified mixture.

A method for extracting an unsaponifiable fraction from a solid renewable raw material comprising the following steps:

• a) optional dehydration possibly preceded or followed with a conditioning of the renewable raw material,
• b) extraction of the fats from the raw material optionally dehydrated and optionally conditioned to obtain an oil,
• c) concentration of the oil resulting from step b) so as to obtain a mixture enriched in unsaponifiable fraction,
• d) liquid-liquid extraction of the mixture enriched in unsaponifiable fraction in the presence of at least one polar organic solvent and at least one non-polar cosolvent immiscible with said polar organic solvent, leading to the formation of a non-polar organic phase enriched in lipids with no or few hydroxyl, epoxide, ketone, thiol, aldehyde, ether and amine functions, and optionally comprising the following steps:
• e) saponification of the non-polar organic phase,
• f) extraction of the unsaponifiable fraction from the saponified mixture,
• wherein said renewable raw material undergoes optionally a heat treatment at a temperature higher than or equal to 75° C., preferably higher than or equal to 80° C., before step d).