US5523494A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process for the isomerization of lutein
Assignee: INDUSTRIAL ORGANICA SADE CV
•
Filing: 1994-07-20
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Granted: 1996-06-04
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Expires: 2014-07-20
Abstract
Abstract A process to obtain a product with a high zeaxanthin content, to be used mainly as an ingredient in poultry feed to enhance the pigmentation of broiler chickens and egg yolk, by reacting at a controlled temperature and pressure, marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) meal or its oleoresin, or formulations containing lutein, with strongly alkaline aqueous solutions under controlled conditions, to isomerize the luteine into zeaxanthin in a product with a higher pigmenting activity.
Inventors
- 👤 Mario-David Torres-Cardona
- 👤 Jose Torres-Quiroga
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 13:18
CPC Classifications
C; C07; C07C; C07C403/00; C07C403/24; A; A23; A23K; A23K20/00; A23K20/10; A23K20/179; A23K50/00; A23K50/70; A23K50/75; C09; C09B; C09B61/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A process to isomerize lutein into zeaxanthin, comprising treating a lutein reaction substrate selected from the group consisting of marigold flowers, marigold leaves, marigold meal, marigold oleoresin, or mixtures, extracts, or concentrates thereof, yellow corn and yellow corn gluten, or mixtures, extracts or concentrates thereof, with a strongly aqueous alkaline solution under controlled conditions of temperature and pressure for a length of time that depends on the degree of the desired isomerization.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
A process to isomerize lutein into zeaxanthin, comprising treating a lutein reaction substrate selected from the group consisting of marigold flowers, marigold leaves, marigold meal, marigold oleoresin, or mixtures, extracts, or concentrates thereof, yellow corn and yellow corn gluten, or mixtures, extracts or concentrates thereof, with a strongly aqueous alkaline solution under controlled conditions of temperature and pressure for a length of time that depends on the degree of the desired isomerization.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process according to claim 1, in which the lutein substrate is in a hydrolyzed or esterified form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process according to claim 1, in which the lutein reaction substrate is an extract or concentrate obtained from the group consisting of marigold flowers (Tagetes erecta L.) or marigold meal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process according to claim 1, in which the lutein reaction substrate contains xanthophylls, comprising mainly free lutein in any proportion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein the lutein reaction substrate contains xanthophylls, comprising mainly lutein in a naturally occurring esterified form, in any proportion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process according to claim 1 in which the aqueous alkali solutions are aqueous solutions which contain from about 5 to about 50%, by weight, of alkali.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process according to claim 1, in which the alkali solutions are selected from the group consisting of alkali saturated or oversaturated solutions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process according to claim 1 in which the alkali is selected from the group consisting of potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, ammonium hydroxide, ammonia, or their mixtures, or in its anhydrous form.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process according to claim 1 in which the alkali is an organic base selected from the group consisting of ethanolamine, ethylamine, morpholine, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process according to claim 1, in which the ratio, by weight, of alkali to the lutein containing substrate, is about 0.05:5.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process according to claim 1, in which the reaction time of the alkaline solution and the lutein containing substrate is from about 5 minutes to about 96 hours.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process according to claim 1, in which the reaction is catalyzed by enzymatjc means, like a catalase or an isomerase.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process according to claim 1, in which the isomerization of lutein is carried out at pressures selected from the group consisting of from about 5 to about 150 psig, and atmospheric pressure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process according to claim 1 in which the isomerization reaction is carried out at a reduced pressure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 1, in which the reaction is carried out under an inert atmosphere of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or their mixtures.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process according to claim 1, in which the reaction temperature is from about 25° to 180° C.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process according to claim 1, in which the isomerization reaction time is improved by means of ultrasonic waves.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process according to claim 1, in which, in the product obtained, the zeaxanthin represents from about 5 to about 50% of the total xanthophylls.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process according to claim 1, in which the product obtained or its formulations, can be used to pigment broiler chickens and egg yolks.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process according to claim 1, in which the product obtained or its formulations, can be used as pigmenting ingredient in aquaculture.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process according to claim 1, in which the product obtained or its formulations, can be used as an ingredient for food consumption.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
85 words
A lutein isomerized substrate having a zeaxanthin content from about 5 % to about 50% of the total xanthophylls, produced by isomerizing a lutein reaction substrate selected from the group consisting of marigold flowers, marigold leaves, marigold meal, marigold oleoresin, or mixtures, extracts, or concentrates thereof, yellow corn and yellow corn gluten, or mixtures, extracts, or concentrates thereof, with a strongly aqueous alkaline solution under controlled conditions of temperature and pressure for a length of time that depends on the degree of the desired isomerization.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
85 words
A lutein isomerized substrate having a zeaxanthin content from about 5 % to about 50% of the total xanthophylls, produced by isomerizing a lutein reaction substrate selected from the group consisting of marigold flowers, marigold leaves, marigold meal, marigold oleoresin, or mixtures, extracts, or concentrates thereof, yellow corn and yellow corn gluten, or mixtures, extracts, or concentrates thereof, with a strongly aqueous alkaline solution under controlled conditions of temperature and pressure for a length of time that depends on the degree of the desired isomerization.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process according to claim 1, in which the lutein reaction substrate is any natural material containing xanthophylls selected from the group consisting of yellow corn, yellow corn gluten, or its extracts or mixtures.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process according to claim 1, in which the ratio, by weight, of alkali to the lutein containing substrate is about 0.1:3.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process according to claim 1, in which the ratio, by weight, of alkali to the lutein containing substrate is about 0.2:1.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process according to claim 16, in which the reaction temperature is from about 70° C. to about 110° C.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process according to claim 1, in which in the product obtained the zeaxanthin represents from about 8% to about 30% of the total xanthophylls.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process according to claim 1, in which in the product obtained the zeaxanthin represents from about 10% to about 20% of the total xanthophylls.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
A lutein isomerized substrate according to claim 22, having a zeaxanthin content of from about 8% to about 30% of the total xanthophylls.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
A lutein isomerized substrate according to claim 22, having a zeaxanthin content of from about 10% to about 20% of the total xanthophylls.
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