Process for the recovery of astaxanthin - carotenoid - pigments from algae pluvialis haematococcus

摘要

A process for the recovery of astaxanthin carotenoid pigment from Haematococcus pluvialis algae comprises comminution of said algae in a liquid medium by rupturing the cell walls of the algae, and dispersing the resulting pigment, and is characterized by the fact that said comminution is carried out in a high pressure apparatus consisting of two consecutive units: a pressure vessel and an interaction chamber, whereby a slurry of said algae containing above 1% by weight solids, enters into said pressure vessel maintained at a pressure of at least 2000 psi and is conveyed into said interaction chamber maintained at a pressure of above 10000 psi, said interaction chamber containing at least one channel, through which the slurry is passed at an increased velocity to effect a turbulent jet causing a rupture of the algae cell walls.