Patent ID: 9456994
Filing Date: 2016-10-04
CPC Classification: A23L,A61K,C07B,C07C

Claim Text:
1. A process for the preparation of a lycopene crystals composition with at least 85% by weight lycopene, wherein the lycopene crystals composition comprises 50% or more by weight of trans-lycopene, comprising the steps of: (a) admixing solvent free lycopene containing oleoresin with ethanol to obtain a reaction mixture; (b) adding aqueous alkali solution to the reaction mixture obtained in step (a) with agitation to obtain a mixture; (c) maintaining the mixture obtained in step (b) at a temperature of around 40 degree C. to about 60 degree C. for a time period sufficient to saponify the lipids and waxes; (d) diluting the mixture after step (c) with water under agitation to obtain a diluted reaction mixture; (e) filtering and collecting lycopene crystals from the diluted reaction mixture and (f) washing the lycopene crystals with ethanol and drying the lycopene crystals under vacuum to obtain the lycopene crystals composition that includes at least 85% by weight lycopene, wherein the lycopene crystals composition comprises 50% or more by weight trans-lycopene.