Extraction of sterols from cocoa hulls
AssigneeMars, Incorporated
InventorsLeo J. Romanczyk, Jr., Craig McClelland
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Abstract
Cocoa oils containing phytosterols and tocols are prepared by extracting the cocoa hulls from dried unfermented or fermented cocoa beans, micronized cocoa beans, or roasted beans with a solvent such as petroleum ether and then removing the solvent. The cocoa oils are useful in foods, dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
Claims17
A cocoa oil, extracted from cocoa hulls, which oil comprises free and bound phytosterols and tocols, wherein the free phytosterols comprise campesterol, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, and cycloartenol, and wherein the tocols comprise tocopherols and tocotrienols, which oil is prepared by:
- (a) grinding cocoa hulls from dried cocoa beans;
- (b) extracting the ground cocoa hulls with a solvent that dissolves the phytosterols and the tocols;
- (c) removing the solvent;
- and
- (d) recovering the cocoa oil.
A process for extracting a cocoa oil comprising free and bound phytosterols and tocols, wherein the free phytosterols comprise campesterol, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, and cycloartenol and wherein the tocols comprise tocopherols and tocotrienols, which process comprises the steps of:
- (a) grinding cocoa hulls from dried cocoa beans;
- (b) extracting the ground cocoa hulls with a solvent that dissolves the phytosterols and the tocols;
- (c) removing the solvent;
- and
- (d) recovering the cocoa oil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.