Taken From The Natural Lutein Ester System Of Astaxanthin In Experimental Research

The study mainly related to a process for preparing astaxanthin from the marigoldextract, using the technology of molecule modify and molecule change. The processincludes preparing zeaxanthin from lutein eaters by one step, and bromizationhydrolyzation and oxidation of zeaxanthin. The process included product's separationand purification, analysis and examination, structure identify. The process also includedoptimizing of technics parameter and designing of technics equipments.The paper provided a process for preparing zeaxanthin from lutein eaters by one step. Itcan get high purity zeaxanthin by separation and purificantion. Lutein eaters was mixedwith 1,2-propanediol, and then reacted for 16h at about 100℃, under sealed conditionand inert atmosphere, with isomedzation yields near to 70％by HPLC. The product wasseparated and puried with n-Hexanath. The final substrate has a zeaxanthin content ofabout 40％, comparing to the initial content of 0.8％.The reaction kinetic equation for preparing zeaxanthin from lutein eaters by one stepwas investigated. The reaction was regarded as a first order reaction when alkali wasmuch more than needed. When 100 g lutein esters were homogenized with 100 ml1,2-propanediol, the mixture was subjected to reflection with 30 g alkali. Theexpression of the of zeaxanthin and the reaction time is as follows:M_zeaxanthin=11.35*[1-exp(-0.15124t)]Where t is the reaction time.Where M_zeaxanthin is the concentration of zeaxanthin in the solution at reaction time.The paper provided a process for bromization and oxidation of high purity zeaxanthin toastaxanthin. High purity zeaxanthin was mixed with a solution of oxidant under icewater. The solution was added to the stirred zeaxanthin solution over a period of 4 to 6 hours under nitrogen. After completion of the reaction, the organic layer was extracted,separated and purified. The final substrate was identified and qualitied with HPLC andMS, which indicated formation of the desired astaxanthin product. The concentration ofit was up to 20％.