Stable carotenoid microcapsule having high bioavailability and preparation method therefor

A method for preparing a carotenoid microcapsule comprising:

• a) mixing carotenoid crystals with an organic solvent, and dissolving the carotenoid crystals in the organic solvent to obtain a carotenoid solution;
• b) introducing the carotenoid solution and a hot grease into a dispersion system to fully disperse the carotenoid into the hot grease, and vaporizing the organic solvent to obtain a carotenoid-containing dispersion liquid;
• c) mixing the carotenoid-containing dispersion liquid with an aqueous solution of a protective colloid to obtain a mixture, and emulsifying the mixture to obtain an emulsion;
• and
• d) spraying and granulating the emulsion, and drying to obtain the carotenoid microcapsule,
• wherein the dispersion system in step b) comprises a dispersing device, a container connected to the dispersing device, a conveying device, and a heating device,
• the dispersing device is configured for mixing the carotenoid solution obtained in step a) with the hot grease or a circulating material to fully disperse the carotenoid into the hot grease;
• the conveying device is configured for conveying substances in the dispersion system;
• and
• the heating device is configured for heating a grease or the circulating material to obtain a liquid hot grease or a liquid circulating material,
• the dispersing device comprises a contact portion, a constriction portion, and an expansion portion connected and communicated with each other in sequence,
• the contact portion is provided with a spray port and an atomization port,
• the spray port is configured to introduce the liquid hot grease or the liquid circulating material into the contact portion;
• the atomization port is configured to transform the carotenoid solution obtained in step a) into tiny carotenoid droplets, so that the carotenoid droplets are capable of being mixed with the liquid hot grease or the liquid circulating material in the contact portion, an organic solvent in the carotenoid droplets is capable of being vaporized, thereby forming carotenoid particles which are dispersed in the hot grease;
• and
• the constriction portion is configured to mix the carotenoid droplets formed in the contact portion with the liquid hot grease and make the organic solvent in the carotenoid droplets vaporized, such that a resulting material is introduced into the expansion portion, and then introduced into the container communicated with the dispersing device.