PROCESSES AND METHODS FOR EXTRACTION AND PURIFICATION OF LUTEIN FROM MARIGOLD ESTERS
A process is disclosed for simultaneously extracting, saponifying, and isolating lutein without the use of harmful organic solvents. In one embodiment the method includes (a) dispersing Marigold oleoresin in an alkane hydrocarbon alkanol solution, (b) adding a potassium hydroxide to the Marigold oleoresin and alkane hydrocarbon alkanol solution to form a homogenous solution of Marigold oleoresin, (c) refluxing the homogeneous solution until ester hydrolysis of the Marigold oleoresin is completed, (d) cooling the homogeneous solution and allowing it to settle until lutein crystals are formed and (e) washing the lutein crystals with methanol-hexane solution to separate and filter them from the solvents.