Process for recovering symmetrical diglycerides from glyceride mixtures

A process for recovering 1,3-digylceride from a glyceride mixture comprising from 5% to 60% triglyceride, from 15% to 70% 1,3-diglyceride, from 1% to 40% 1,2-diglyceride and from 8% to 50% monoglyceride which comprises:

• forming a solution of a glyceride mixture comprising from 5% to 60% triglyceride, from 15% to 70% 1,3-diglyceride, from 1% to 40% 1,2-diglyceride and from 8% to 50% monoglyceride, the acyl groups of said glycerides having from 12 to 22 carbon atoms and a non-polar hydrocarbon solvent and polar organic solvent, in a ratio of non-polar hydrocarbon solvent to polar organic solvent of from 2:1 to 20:1, said polar organic solvent being sufficiently polar as to dissolve the monoglyceride content of said glyceride mixture;
• inducing and maintaining crystallization of solid 1,3-diglyceride from the solution while maintaining the temperature of the solution below the saturation temperature of the 1,3-diglyceride and above the saturation temperature of the remaining components of the glyceride mixture;
• and recovering solid highly pure 1,3-diglyceride.