PROCESS FOR THE RECOVERY OF CRYSTALLINE BETA-CAROTENE FROM A NATURAL SOURCE

摘要

The present invention describes a process to recover highly pure 2-carotene crystals from a crude crystal preparation obtained from a natural source. To remove impurities, the crude crystals are stirred in a solvent in which 2-carotene has a low solubility, whereupon the crystals are filtered off and washed with fresh solvent. Using the process of the invention, a natural crystalline 2-carotene preparation with a very high purity is obtained, a purity comparable to that of synthetic 2-carotene.