US 5,962,756 A · Natural carotenoid concentrates from plant material and a process for preparing the same

Abstract

Chromoplasts and/or chloroplasts are isolated from plant material. This wet mass is digested in aqueous medium with pectin- and/or protein-cleaving enzymes, insoluble substances are removed, and a carotinoid-rich sediment is obtained after acidifying the separated colloid disperse system. The sediment is heated at alkaline pH with aqueous ethanol or isopropyl alcohol to remove the major part of cleaved proteins, lipides and other accompanying substances. The sediment with enriched carotenoid content is mixed with antioxidants and, if desired, dried, providing a carotenoid concentrate free of toxic solvent residues.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A process for preparing a natural carotenoid product refined from impurities, the process comprising the steps of:

i) providing a press liquid containing at least one of a chromoplast or chloroplast fraction isolated from a plant;
ii) acidifying said press liquid to about the isoelectric point of chromoplasts or chloroplasts to provide a carotenoid-containing sediment;
iii) treating said carotenoid-containing sediment in aqueous alkaline medium under controlled conditions with a pectin or protein-cleaving enzyme to provide a colloidal-carotenoid solution;
iv) separating impurities as a sediment from the colloidal-carotenoid solution;
v) acidifying the colloidal-carotenoid solution to provide a carotenoid-rich precipitate, whereby impurities are left remaining in the liquid phase;
vi) substantially neutralizing the carotenoid-rich precipitate and isolating the natural carotenoid product therefrom.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Natural carotenoid concentrates from plant material and a process for preparing the same

Life of this patent

Natural carotenoid concentrates from plant material and a process for preparing the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20