US4617406A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Purification of tocopherols
Assignee: Cognis Corp
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Filing: 1985-02-11
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Granted: 1986-10-14
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Expires: 2005-02-11
Abstract
Abstract Tocopherol homologues found in a tocopherol-containing feed material can be purified by forming a borate tocopherol ester and then distilling the material containing the esterified tocopherol to remove the materials boiling at temperatures lower than the esterified tocopherol. The borate tocopherol esters remaining after distillation are then reacted with a member selected from the group consisting of: Water, methanol, and ethanol to form tocopherol homologues from the borate tocopherol ester, and the boron by product from this reaction is removed. The tocopherol is then recovered by collecting it, distilling it or by any other convenient collection method.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen M. Willging
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:07
CPC Classifications
C; C07; C07D; C07D311/00; C07D311/02; C07D311/04; C07D311/58; C07D311/70; C07D311/72
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A process for the purification of tocopherol comprising: (a) reacting the tocopherol in a tocopherol-containing feed material with a member selected from the group consisting of: boric acid, an alkoxy boroxine, an alkoxy borate, a phenoxyboroxine, and a phenoxyborate to form a borate tocopherol ester; (b) distilling the product of (a) to leave the borate tocopherol esters in the residue; (c) releasing the tocopherol from the borate tocopherol ester left after distillation by reacting the borate tocopherol ester with a member selected from the group consisting of: water, methanol and ethanol to form the tocopherol and a boron compound; (d) removing the boron compound formed by the reaction of the water, methanol and ethanol in step (c), and then (e) recovering the released tocopherol after step (d).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A process for the purification of tocopherol comprising: (a) reacting the tocopherol in a tocopherol-containing feed material with a member selected from the group consisting of: boric acid, an alkoxy boroxine, an alkoxy borate, a phenoxyboroxine, and a phenoxyborate to form a borate tocopherol ester; (b) distilling the product of (a) to leave the borate tocopherol esters in the residue; (c) releasing the tocopherol from the borate tocopherol ester left after distillation by reacting the borate tocopherol ester with a member selected from the group consisting of: water, methanol and ethanol to form the tocopherol and a boron compound; (d) removing the boron compound formed by the reaction of the water, methanol and ethanol in step (c), and then (e) recovering the released tocopherol after step (d).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process described in claim 1 wherein the reaction of step (a) is at a temperature in the range of from about 40° to about 305° C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as described in claim 1 wherein an excess amount of water is used in step (c) to release the tocopherol, thereby forming boric acid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process as described in claim 1 wherein the tocopherol is released from the borate tocopherol ester by reacting it in step (c) with a member selected from the group consisting of: Methanol and ethanol.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process as described in claim 3 wherein the boric acid formed in step (c) is removed in step (d) by an aqueous phase separation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as described in claim 4 wherein the boron compound formed in step (c) is removed by using an azeotropic distillation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as described in claim 6 wherein the amount of methanol and ethanol used in step (c) is from about 3.5 to about 30 moles per mole of boron present.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as described in claim 7 wherein the tocopherol is recovered as a distillation product.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-10-13 | 1990-04-14 | 1990-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-10-13 | 1994-04-14 | 1994-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-10-13 | 1998-04-14 | 1998-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |