EXTRACTION OF CHOLESTEROL FROM DEHYDRATED EGG-YOLK WITH ACETONE - DETERMINATION OF THE PRACTICAL PHASE-EQUILIBRIUM AND SIMULATION OF THE EXTRACTION PROCESS

The practical equilibrium conditions were determined for the extractio n of cholesterol from dehydrated egg yolk using acetone as solvent. Un der these conditions the equilibrium data were obtained. A computer pr ogram based on the equilibrium data and mass balance equations was dev eloped for the simulation of a multistage countercurrent extraction pr ocess. The practical equilibrium conditions were: temperature 25 degre es C, stirring speed 100 rpm and contact time 15 min. The simulation a llowed for the determination of the number of theoretical stages for a given residual cholesterol in the raffinate phase, and showed that mo dification of the operating conditions is possible to obtain a higher cholesterol yield. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Limited.