Extraction of a mixture of phytosterols from soybean processing by-product and its use in the manufacture of 9[alpha]-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3,17-dione

9[alpha]-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3,17-dione was prepared from a mixture of phytosterols using microbiological methods to degrade soybean sterols to androstenedione followed by its 9[alpha]-hydroxylation. Phytosterols could be extracted from deodorizer distillate sludge produced during production of soybean oil with low sterol content (5.2%) with a level of extraction of greater than 96% and a total sterol content of at least 90%. The 9[alpha]-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3,17-dione yield from the phytosterol mixture was 38%. Key words: phytosterols, soybean oil, deodorization sludge, Mycobacterium, androstenedione, Rhodococcus, 9[alpha]-hydroxylation.