Method for Producing Dry Powders of at Least One Carotenoid

• US 20080026124A1
• Filed: 09/15/2005
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Carsten Jensen, Nina Musaeus
• Original Assignee: Carsten Jensen, Nina Musaeus
• Inventors: Jensen, Carsten, Musaeus, Nina
• Application Number:
  US11/663,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20080026124A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/540
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 3/02 Nutrients, e.g. vitamins, minerals
• CPC Class Codes: C09B 61/00 Dyes of natural origin prepared from natural sources , e.g. vegetable sources

Abstract

Processes for preparing dry, carotenoid-containing powders which are suitable for use as additives in foods, pharmaceuticals and animal feeds are described, which processes include: (a) providing a dispersion comprising one or more carotenoids in an aqueous molecular or colloidal solution comprising isomalt and at least one protective colloid; and (b) drying the dispersion to form a dry powder comprising the one or more carotenoids.

Claims

1-14. -14. (canceled)

15. A process comprising:

(a) providing a dispersion comprising one or more carotenoids in an aqueous molecular or colloidal solution comprising isomalt and at least one protective colloid; and

(b) drying the dispersion to form a dry powder comprising the one or more carotenoids.

16. The process according to claim 15, further comprising grinding the dispersion before drying.

17. The process according to claim 15, wherein the dispersion comprises a suspension.

18. The process according to claim 17, further comprising grinding the suspension before drying.

19. The process according to claim 17, wherein providing the suspension comprises:

(i) dissolving the one or more carotenoids in a solvent selected from water-miscible organic solvents, water-immiscible organic solvents, and aqueous mixtures thereof, to form a carotenoid solution; and

(ii) mixing the carotenoid solution with the aqueous molecular or colloidal solution to form the suspension.

20. The process according to claim 15, wherein the at least one protective colloid comprises a modified starch.

21. The process according to claim 15, wherein the at least one protective colloid comprises octenylsuccinate-starch.

22. The process according to claim 15, wherein the one or more carotenoids comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of β

-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, and mixtures thereof.

23. The process according to claim 18, wherein the one or more carotenoids comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of β

-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, and mixtures thereof.

24. The process according to claim 23, wherein the at least one protective colloid comprises a modified starch.

25. The process according to claim 17, wherein the one or more carotenoids comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of β

-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, and mixtures thereof;

wherein the at least one protective colloid comprises a modified starch; and

wherein providing the suspension comprises;

(i) dissolving the one or more carotenoids in a solvent selected from the group consisting of water-miscible organic solvents and aqueous mixtures thereof, at a temperature greater than 30°

C., to form a carotenoid solution; and

(ii) mixing the carotenoid solution with the aqueous molecular or colloidal solution to form the suspension.

26. The process according to claim 17, wherein providing the suspension comprises:

(i) providing an initial aqueous molecular or colloidal solution comprising the at least one protective colloid;

(ii) dispersing the one or more carotenoids in the initial solution; and

(iii) combining the initial solution with isomalt to form the suspension.

27. The process according to claim 26, wherein the at least one protective colloid comprises a modified starch.

28. The process according to claim 26, wherein the one or more carotenoids comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of β

-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, and mixtures thereof.

29. The process according to claim 27, wherein the one or more carotenoids comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of β

-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, and mixtures thereof.

30. The process according to claim 26, further comprising grinding the one or more carotenoids.

31. The process according to claim 30, wherein grinding the one or more carotenoids is carried out subsequent to combining the initial solution with isomalt.

32. A dry powder prepared by the process according to claim 15.

33. The dry powder according to claim 30, wherein the one or more carotenoids is present in an amount of 0.1 to 40% by weight, based on the dry powder.

34. A dry powder prepared by the process according to claim 22, wherein the compound selected from the group consisting of β

-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, and mixtures thereof is present in an amount of 5 to 25% by weight, based on the dry powder.