Method for the separation of phospholipids from phospholipid-containing materials

Abstract

Methods are disclosed for extracting and separating polar lipids, including phospholipids, from materials containing oil, polar lipid, protein, ash, and/or carbohydrate, such as egg yolks and other phospholipid-containing materials. In particular, methods for extracting phospholipids from phospholipid-containing materials through the use of an aliphatic alcohol and control of temperature are disclosed. Using these methods, phospholipids in the aqueous liquid fraction will be efficiently separated and will precipitate readily, and can be subjected to separation for improved purity.

1 . A method for the separation of phospholipids from a phospholipid-containing material, comprising:
 a. combining the phospholipid-containing material and a water soluble aliphatic alcohol to form a phospholipid-containing fraction;   b. cooling the phospholipid-containing fraction to precipitate the phospholipids.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the phospholipid-containing material is obtained from a source selected from the group consisting of poultry eggs, enriched poultry eggs, dairy products, fish, fish eggs, genetically engineered plants, seeds, a marine microorganism selected from the group consisting of order Dinophyceae, a marine microorganism selected from the group consisting of order Thraustochytriales, sweetbreads, eyes, neural tissue and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the phospholipid-containing material is obtained from a source selected from the group consisting of a marine microorganism of the genus  Thraustochytrium , genus  Schizochytrium , genus  Althornia , genus  Aplanochytrium , genus  Japonochytrium , genus  Labyrinthula , genus  Labyrithuloides , species  Crypthecodinium cohnii  and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       4 - 5 . (canceled) 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the water soluble aliphatic alcohol in the combination is from about 5% to about 50% (w/w). 
   
   
       7 - 9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water soluble aliphatic alcohol is propanol. 
   
   
       11 - 17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the combined phospholipid-containing material and water soluble aliphatic alcohol form the phospholipid-containing fraction and at least one other fraction, wherein the fractions have different densities. 
   
   
       19 - 26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the combined phospholipid-containing material and water soluble alcohol are maintained at a temperature of about 35 C to about 70 C during the combining step. 
   
   
       28 - 29 . (canceled) 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling step comprises cooling the combination to a temperature of from about 5 C to about 35 C. 
   
   
       31 - 33 . (canceled) 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising separating the precipitated phospholipids. 
   
   
       35 . (canceled) 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the phospholipid-containing material has a low oil content. 
   
   
       37 . (canceled) 
   
   
       38 . A method for the separation of phospholipids from a phospholipid-containing material comprising:
 (a) combining propanol and a phospholipid-containing material from a source selected from the group consisting of poultry eggs, enriched poultry eggs, microorganisms of the genus  Thraustochytrium , microorganisms of the genus  Schizochytrium , microorganisms of the species  Crypthecodinium cohnii  and mixtures thereof at a temperature of from about 35 C to about 75 C;   (b) allowing the combination to form a water/propanol fraction enriched in phospholipids at a temperature of from about 35 C to about 75 C;   (c) cooling the phospholipid-enriched fraction to a temperature of from about 5 C to about 35 C to precipitate the phospholipids; and   (d) separating the precipitated phospholipids.   
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the step of combining further comprises mixing the phospholipid-containing material and the propanol in an apparatus selected from the group consisting of a stir tank, a pump, a static mixer, a homogenizer, and a shear mixer. 
   
   
       40 . (canceled) 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the combination is maintained at a temperature of about 60 C during the allowing step. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the cooling step comprises cooling the combination to a temperature of about 25 C. 
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the step of separating comprises centrifugation. 
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the fraction forms in a batch process. 
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the fraction forms in a continuous process. 
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the phospholipid-containing material has a low oil content. 
   
   
       47 . (canceled) 
   
   
       48 . A method for the separation of phospholipids from a phospholipid-containing material comprising:
 (a) combining propanol and a phospholipid-containing material from a source selected from the group consisting of poultry eggs and enriched poultry eggs at a temperature of about 60 C;   (b) separating the combination into a phospholipid-enriched fraction and a protein fraction at a temperature of from about 35 C to about 75 C;   (c) recovering the phospholipid-enriched fraction by centrifugation in a batch process or a continuous process, at a temperature of from about 35 C to about 75 C;   (d) precipitating phospholipid from the phospholipid-enriched fraction at a temperature of about 25 C; and   (e) separating the precipitated phospholipid by centrifugation or filtration.   
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the phospholipid-containing material has been de-oiled. 
   
   
       50 . (canceled)