A convenient method for lecithin purification from fresh eggs

The increasing demand for fatty acid-free lecithin required modifications in existing purification methods. In this technical note we describe a purification procedure with the following steps: a) homogenization and extraction of yolks obtained from fresh eggs with acetone, b) solubilization with et...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Química Nova 2008, Vol.31 (4), p.910-913
Main Authors: Maximiano, Flavio A., Silva, Marcia A. da, Daghastanli, Katia R. P., Araujo, Pedro S. de, Chaimovich, Hernan, Cuccovia, Iolanda M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY
lecithin
phosphatidylcholine
purification
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Summary:The increasing demand for fatty acid-free lecithin required modifications in existing purification methods. In this technical note we describe a purification procedure with the following steps: a) homogenization and extraction of yolks obtained from fresh eggs with acetone, b) solubilization with ethanol and solvent elimination and c) repeated solubilization/precipitation with petroleum ether/acetone. This crude extract was chromatographed on neutral alumina, which was exhaustively washed with chloroform before elution with chloroform:methanol, allowing the sequential separation of fatty acids and lecithin. Chromatographic behavior and mass spectra of the product are presented. This fast procedure yields fatty acid-free lecithin at a competitive cost.
ISSN:0100-4042
1678-7064
1678-7064
DOI:10.1590/S0100-40422008000400032