RESPONSE-SURFACE METHODOLOGY APPLIED TO FRACTIONATION OF DE-OILED SOYA LECITHIN OBTAINED BY SUPERCRITICAL CARBON-DIOXIDE EXTRACTION

Soya lecithin, de-oiled by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction at 200 bar and 50 degrees C, was subjected to ethanol extraction for the enrichment of phosphatidylcholines (PC). The process variables time, t emperature and ethanol-lecithin ratio were studied for optimization of PC enrichment by response surface methodology following a Box-Behnken design of experiments An optimum value of PC enrichment was not found However, the results indicated: (a) PC enrichment generally increased with an increase in all three variables. (b) Until 5 min extraction t ime, there is no significant increase in PC enrichment. (c) Above an e thanol-lecithin ratio of 50 L/kg, not much increase in PC enrichment w as noticed. (d) A rise in the temperature of extraction leads to incre ase in PC enrichment.