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Shea Stearin Extraction by Dry Fractionation

Chemistry Asked on December 17, 2021

I have been able fractionate palm oil and extract palm stearin using the following method:

  1. Melt the palm oil (over 80 °C)
  2. Keep the melted oil at 33.5 °C for 24 hours (using an immersion circulated water bath)
    • At this point I was able observe crystals being formed. I assume they were palm stearin crystals.
  3. Centrifuge to separate the crystals to obtain palm stearin.
    • I was able fractionate almost 30 % crystals by weight.

However the same process did not really hold true while processing the shea butter to fractionate shea stearin. After Step 2, it was still in liquid form and there was no visible crystal formation. I’m further considering seeding (with crystals) or playing with the time and temperature variations.

How can I modify my approach to promote stearin crystal formation in shea butter?

2 Answers

The industrial processes uses acetone for shea fractionation. The crude oil is degummed first by a water degumming process and then fractionation is carried out using acetone as a solvent for separating oleic fractions.

Palm oil melts at approx. 36 °C. And you provided the temperature for crystallization as 33.5 °C. Decrease the temperature. Shea butter melts between 32 °C and 37 °C. I would recommend decreasing temperature and slow agitation at a temperature below 20 °C if possible. If you cannot agitate, try it at 30 °C.

If it solidifies at 30 °C, try at 32 °C.

Answered by Samar Shah on December 17, 2021

Shea butter is a complex combination of esters:

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(Wikipedia). The overall ratio of oleic to stearic acids is about 2/1, but statistically, there will a little of the high melting stearic, more of the 2 stearic to 1 oleic; much more of the 2 oleic to 1 stearic, and a lot of all oleic ester. The melting point of shea butter is low (body temperature) and so if it does not precipitate out the tristearin even at room temperature, you will have to do something different.

A fractional crystallization involving higher temperatures would use a poor solvent for the tristearin (mp ~ 72C), like ethanol. The oleic esters will be more soluble. Make a 20-30% solution in hot ethanol (be careful!!) and let it cool. Experimenting with similar alcohols (propyl, isopropyl, and perhaps with a bit of water added (~5-10%) could give better results.

Oiling out is a common problem in trying to crystallize organic compounds.

Answered by James Gaidis on December 17, 2021

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