Abstract: By the method of cooling crystallization and with hexane as extraction solvent, crude phytosterol was separated from the sterol-enriched solution, which was byproduct of methyl esters of soy oil deodorizer distillate after extraction of vitamin E by ion exchange, and then purified by recrystallation using acetone as solvent. The optimum extraction conditions are determined by single factor and orthogonal test as follows: extraction time 18 h, crystallization temperature 2 ℃, and ratio of raw material to hexane 1:2 (g/ml). The purity of crude product is 84.39%, and up to 94.87% by recrystallation.

Key words: sterol, crystallization, recrystallation