Isopropanol fractionation of butter oil and characteristics of fractions

Fractionation of butter oil from isopropanol and characterization of the chemical composition and the melting properties of the fractions obtained have been investigated. Butter oil was fractionated from isopropanol (1∶4 wt/vol) at 15 to 30°C. The yields of stearins and oleins were dependent on the temperature employed during fractionation. Thus, 24.8 to 48.9% of stearins and 51.5 to 75.2% of oleins could be obtained as the crystallization temperature varied from 15 to 30°C. The stearin fractions displayed a distinct variation in the fatty acid compositions. The palmitic acid content of the stearin fractions varied from 39.1 to 44.0%, and that of stearic from 15.1 to 16.8%, respectively. The olein fractions contained 43.2% stearic acid, and 2.4 to 2.8% palmitoleic acid (C16∶1). The solid fat content values of the stearin fractions obtained were 62–67, 39–50, and 21–25 at 10, 20, and 30°C, respectively. From the results, it is evident that anhydrous milk fat can be fractionated at relatively high temperatures from isopropanol to produce stearin and olein fractions of specific composition and properties.