Molecular Distillation of Shea Butter and its Unsaponifiable Matters

Shea butter was molecularly distilled by the centrifugal molecular distillation apparatus, and unsaponifiable matters contained in each fractions were determined. Concentrated unsaponifiable matters were found in both the first fraction and the residue. The main fraction was obtained with 72per cent yield, which contained only a little unsaponifiable matter. It was comfirmed that β-amyrine and lupeol existed in the first fraction and poly-isoprene in the residue.