Patent ID: 7253297

Claim:
A process for producing a formulation comprising an astaxanthin derivative of the general formula I wherein R is in each case a group (a), (b) or (c) —NH—CH(R 1 )—COOR 2 (a) —OR 3 (b) —(Y) n —Z (c) R 1 signifies hydrogen or the residue of a protein-forming amino acid, R 2 signifies C 1-6 -alkyl or C 3-8 -cycloalkyl, R 3 signifies C 1-12 -alkyl or C 3-8 -cycloalkyl, n signifies zero or 1, Y signifies C 1-7 -alkylene or C 2-7 -alkenylene, and Z when n is zero, signifies C 3-8 -cycloalkyl, a group —CH(C 6 H 5 )OR 4 , a group —COR 5 a group —CH 2 N + (CH 3 ) 3 Hal − , or Z when n is 1, signifies amino, a group —O—COR 6 , a group —OR 7 or a group —SR 8 , or Z regardless of whether n is zero or 1, signifies alternatively aryl, heteroaryl, a group —COOR 5 or a group —CH(CH 3 )OR 4 , R 4 signifies hydrogen or acetyl, R 5 signifies hydrogen or C 1-6 -alkyl, R 6 signifies C 1-6 -alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, R 7 signifies hydrogen, C 1-6 -alkyl or acetyl, R 8 signifies C 1-6 -alkyl, and Hal − signifies a halogen ion; wherein the process comprises dissolving the astaxanthin derivative in a plant or vegetable oil or fat, or in an organic solvent, or in a mixture of both a plant or vegetable oil or fat and an organic solvent, emulsifying the solution with an aqueous solution of a protective colloid, at least partially removing the solvent and water to afford a concentrated emulsion, and spray-drying the concentrated emulsion to finally produce a formulation suitable for incorporation in a feed for aquatic animals.