Isolation and purification of carotenoids from marigold flowers

A method for producing carotenoids rich in Lutein from Marigold flower petals comprising the steps of:

• (a) ensilaging Marigold flower petals under controlled anaerobic conditions to fix and enrich the carotenoids present in the petals;
• (b) dehydration through eco friendly drying process to obtain dried meal;
• (c) pellatilizing the meal;
• (d) solvent extraction of the pellatilized meal using food grade hexanes to obtain carotenoid esters rich Marigold oleoresin;
• (e) hydrolysis of carotenoids esters with alcoholic alkali after homogenizing the oleoresin;
• (f) precipitation of carotenoid crystals using water alcohol mixture;
• (g) washing with sufficient quantity of hot water to remove water soluble soaps, chlorophyllins and other organic impurities like trace residual hexanes;
• (h) filteration of carotenoid crystals using filter press, centrifuge and neutch filter;
• and
• (i) drying to obtain pure carotenoid crystals having high purity levels, considerably low in moisture and absolutely free from residual hazardous solvents.