Patent ID: 7622599

Claim:
A method for producing carotenoids rich in Lutein from Marigold flower petals comprising the steps of: (a) ensilaging Marigold flower petals under controlled anaerobic conditions to fix and enrich the carotenoids present in the petals; (b) dehydration through eco friendly drying process to obtain dried meal; (c) pellatilizing the meal; (d) solvent extraction of the pellatilized meal using food grade hexanes to obtain carotenoid esters rich Marigold oleoresin; (e) hydrolysis of carotenoids esters with alcoholic alkali after homogenizing the oleoresin; (f) precipitation of carotenoid crystals using water alcohol mixture; (g) washing with sufficient quantity of hot water to remove water soluble soaps, chlorophyllins and other organic impurities like trace residual hexanes; (h) filteration of carotenoid crystals using filter press, centrifuge and neutch filter; and (i) drying to obtain pure carotenoid crystals having high purity levels, considerably low in moisture and absolutely free from residual hazardous solvents.