Assessment of solvent resistant nanofiltration membranes for valorization of deodorizer distillates

•Solvent resistant nanofiltration for valorization of an agro-industrial by-product.•Strong relationship between flux and swelling/solvent viscosity ratio was identified.•Reasonable permeabilities and discrimination between target compounds were observed.•Removal of contaminants from target fitosterols by diananofiltration is feasible.

The valorization of deodorizer distillates from the oil refining industry requires a stable membrane suitable to separate steryl esters (bioactive compounds with high molecular weight (MW), 65096%)(>96%) and significant low rejection of pesticides (<65%)(<65%), under optimised conditions.