Method of separating ergosterol

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of separating ergosterol from a solution containing ergosterol in water-insoluble organic solvent, comprising supplying water to the solution and precipitating ergosterol. According to the method of the present invention, ergosterol crystals can be obtained at a high yield. Moreover, controlled water supply provides granular ergosterol aggregates exhibiting good solid-liquid separation character at a high yield.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method of separating ergosterol from a solution containing ergosterol in an organic solvent, which comprises:
 supplying an amount of water to a solution containing ergosterol in an organic solvent that is an aliphatic hydrocarbon, aromatic hydrocarbon, halogenated hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof, and precipitating ergosterol from said solution by cooling crystallization,   wherein the amount of water supplied is within the range of water solubility in said organic solvent.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein said solution containing ergosterol in an organic solvent is obtained by extracting ergosterol from a microorganism containing ergosterol using said organic solvent, or is obtained by extracting ergosterol from a microorganism containing ergosterol using a second solvent that is different from said organic solvent, and then replacing said second solvent with said organic solvent.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein said organic solvent is a hexane, a heptane, an octane, or a mixture thereof.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the ergosterol is separated by precipitation as an aggregate comprising an amorphous component as well as hydrate crystals in the crystals thereof.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the ergosterol is separated by precipitation as an aggregate having a crystallinity of 50% to 90%, wherein crystallinity is the amount of crystal component in the aggregate as determined by measuring water of hydration by thermogravimetric analysis.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 said organic solvent is an aliphatic hydrocarbon; and   wherein said solution containing ergosterol in an organic solvent is obtained by extracting ergosterol from a microorganism containing ergosterol using a second solvent that is an aromatic hydrocarbon or a halogenated hydrocarbon, and then replacing said second solvent with said organic solvent.   
     
     
         14 . A method of separating ergosterol from a solution containing ergosterol in an organic solvent, which comprises:
 supplying an amount of water to a solution containing ergosterol in an organic solvent that is an aliphatic hydrocarbon, aromatic hydrocarbon, halogenated hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof, and precipitating ergosterol from said solution by cooling crystallization,   wherein the amount of water is supplied within such a range of amount that no phase separation to form two liquid phases occurs between said organic solvent and water.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein said solution containing ergosterol in an organic solvent is obtained by extracting ergosterol from a microorganism containing ergosterol using said organic solvent, or is obtained by extracting ergosterol from a microorganism containing ergosterol using a second solvent that is different from said organic solvent, and then replacing said second solvent with said organic solvent.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein said organic solvent is a hexane, a heptane, an octane, or a mixture thereof.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein the ergosterol is separated by precipitation as an aggregate comprising an amorphous component as well as hydrate crystals in the crystals thereof.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 ,
 wherein the ergosterol is separated by precipitation as an aggregate having a crystallinity of 50% to 90%, wherein crystallinity is the amount of crystal component in the aggregate as determined by measuring water of hydration by thermogravimetric analysis.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 said organic solvent is an aliphatic hydrocarbon; and   wherein said solution containing ergosterol in an organic solvent is obtained by extracting ergosterol from a microorganism containing ergosterol using a second solvent that is an aromatic hydrocarbon or a halogenated hydrocarbon, and then replacing said second solvent with said organic solvent.