Method for recovery and separation of chitin, proteins and astaxanthin and esters thereof
OwnerGunnar Mikalsen, deceased, by Ester Mikalsen, heiressinventors
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Abstract
A method is provided for recovering astaxanthin, astaxanthin carotenoids, astaxanthin esters, chitin and proteins from crustacean tissues containing such. The method comprises an initial extraction of crustacean tissue with boiling lye to form an alkaline extract and an extracted residue. The alkaline extract, upon cooling, forms separate layers from which can be recovered component protein, astaxanthin, astaxanthin carotenoids and astaxanthin esters. The lye extracted residue of chitin-containing such crustacean tissue is readily processed to provide chitin.
Claims15
A method for recovering astaxanthin and astaxanthin carotenoids, astaxanthin esters, chitin and proteins from a raw material containing such selected from the group consisting of crustacean tissues, said method comprising the steps of extracting the crustacean raw material with boiling lye to form an alkaline extract and an extracted residue,
- cooling the alkaline extract to induce separation of the extract into three phases including, respectively, a lowest specific weight phase containing astaxanthin esters, an intermediate specific weight phase containing extracted proteins, and a highest specific weight phase containing astaxanthin and carotenoids, and
- separating at least one of the phases and processing it to concentrate the contained raw material extract.
A method for recovering chitin from a raw material containing chitin selected from the group consisting of crustacean tissues, plants, algae and bacteria, said method comprising the steps of extracting the raw material with boiling lye to form an alkaline extract and an extracted residue, drying the reside in concentrated formic acid and thereafter dissolving the residue in anhydride formic acid or another strong acid to form a solution of the residue, filtering the solution and diluting the solution with water to precipitate chitin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.