Glucan preparations
A method for producing particulate β-glucan utilizes surfactant extraction to reduce lipid impurities that decompose to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The resulting particulate β-glucan is essentially free of VOCs.
1 . A process for producing particulate β-glucan having immunostimulating properties, the process comprising:
treating a suspension of yeast cell walls with an alkaline solution;
treating the suspension of yeast cell walls with a surfactant; and
substantially purifying the particulate b-glucan.
2 . The process of claim 1 wherein the alkaline solution and surfactant are combined.
3 . The process of claim 1 and further comprising:
treating the suspension of yeast cells with the alkaline Solution multiple times.
4 . The process of claim 1 and further comprising:
treating the suspension of yeast cells with the surfactant multiple times.
5 . The process of claim 1 wherein the alkaline solution is sodium hydroxide.
6 . The process of claim 1 wherein the surfactant is one of octylthioglucoside, Lubrol PX, Triton X-100, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, Nonidet P-40, Tween 20, ionic (anionic, cationic, amphoteric) surfactants such as alkyl sulfonlates and benzalkonium chlorides, nonionic surfactants such as polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oils, polyoxyethylene sorbitol fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene glycerol fatty acid esters, polyethylene glycol fatty acid esters and polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ethers or any combination thereof.
7 . A composition comprising particulate b-glucan having substantially no volatile organic compounds.
8 . A composition comprising particulate b-glucan having substantially no lipids.