ARS | Publication request: Improved solid phase extraction of ferulate phytosterol esters from corn distiller's dried grain extract

Submitted to: Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Oil Chemists' Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: February 15, 2008
Publication Date: May 19, 2008
Citation: Rennick, K.A., Moser, J.K., Vaughn, S.F. 2008. Improved solid phase extraction of ferulate phytosterol esters from corn distiller's dried grain extract. Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Oil Chemists' Society. 00:000-000.

Technical Abstract: We recently reported on the retention of valuable phytochemicals such as ferulate phytosterol esters (FPE), tocopherols (T), and tocotrienols (T3) in solvent and CO2 extracts of distillers dried grains (DDG). However, the extraction and purification of these phytochemicals, especially FPE, from the oil is time consuming, and requires the use of hazardous solvents. Silica cartridges were used to compare two different solid phase extraction (SPE) methods for the purification of FPE. Method 1 involved the elution of neutral lipids with 98/2-heptane/ethyl acetate followed by elution of FPE with 90/10-heptane/ethyl acetate. In method 2, a two-step elution of neutral lipids followed by elution of FPE with 90/10-heptane/ethyl acetate was used. Fractions collected using methods 1 and 2 were analyzed qualitatively by TLC and quantitatively by HPLC for T, T3, FPE, and contamination by neutral lipids. Analysis by HPLC showed that method 1 was capable of isolating T, T3, and FPE from neutral lipids, while method 2 was superior at purifying FPE away from neutral lipids, T and T3. This data indicates that two-step SPE using 90/10-heptane/ethyl acetate allowed for efficient and quick separation and purification of FPE from neutral lipids and T and T3, with less hazardous solvents.