Skw Trostberg Aktiengesellschaft

Georg Huber

Jurgen Heidlas

Jan Cully

Utz Kohlrausch

For the extraction of carotenes, in particular of .beta.-carotene, from natural sources, these are stirred for several hours at at least 30.degree. C. in a solvent mixture composed of acetic esters of C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alcohols as well as a portion of 1 to 25% by weight of an oil of biological origin. The natural colorant is in this way obtained in very high space-time yields and high purity.

Process for the extraction of carotenes from natural sources

In order to fractionate or/and refine natural lipid materials by extraction with compressed gases, the natural materials are used in a liquid form and they are extracted with a liquid mixture of 50 to 90% by weight propane and 10 to 50% by weight carbon dioxide which is in a subcritical state.

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Altenmarkt, Germany

Georg Huber