METHOD OF PREPARING CHITOSAN MICROCAPSULES OF ASTAXANTHIN AND PRODUCT THUS OBTAINED

摘要

The invention relates to a method of preparing microcapsules of astaxanthin in a chitosan matrix crosslinked with glutaraldehyde. The inventive method comprises the following steps: (a) formation of a primary oil-in-water emulsion, of which the dispersed phase is an astaxanthin solution dissolved in dichloromethane and the continuous phase consists of an aqueous chitosan solution with an emulsifier; and (b) formation of an oil-water-oil emulsion, of which the dispersed phase is the aforementioned primary emulsion and the continuous phase consists of mineral oil with an added emulsifier, an aqueous glutaraldehyde solution being added at the end of said step in order to produce the crosslinking reaction of the chitosane; (c) evaporation of the aqueous solvents using heat; (d) recovery of the microcapsules by centrifuging the suspension of same and decantation of the mineral oil; and (e) vacuum drying of the microcapsules obtained.