METHOD FOR PURIFYING XANTHOPHYLL COMPOUND

摘要

A method for purifying a xanthophyll compound involves the steps of: (a) adding a nonpolar solvent and water to an aqueous organic solvent solution containing the xanthophyll compound; (b) subjecting to liquid-liquid extraction to thereby obtain a nonpolar solvent phase; and (c) subjecting the nonpolar solvent phase to at least one step selected from the following steps (c-1) to (c-3): step (c-1) of concentrating the nonpolar solvent phase; step (c-2) of adding water to the nonpolar solvent phase followed by further subjecting at least once to liquid-liquid extraction; and step (c-3) of further adding a nonpolar solvent to the nonpolar solvent phase whereby the xanthophyll compound is precipitated.