Abstract: A carotenoid-enriched fraction is extracted from natural sources, such as carrots, by (i) separating the carotenoid-containing natural source into a carotenoid-containing liquid fraction and a pulp fraction, (ii) adding a carotenoid precipitation agent including calcium chloride, calcium hydroxide, calcium lactate or calcium gluconate to the liquid fraction to form a carotenoid-enriched solid precipitate, and (iii) separating the carotenoid-enriched solid precipitate from the carotenoid-depleted liquid portion.

Abstract: A process for the continusous preparation of Beta-carotene together with an emulsifier by briefly heating Beta-carotene together with an emulsifier to give a homogeneous solution, rapidly cooling the latter to below 100.degree. C. by adding water, and subsequently adjusting to the required final concentration of Beta-carotene, comprises pumping a suspension, which has been preheated from 20.degree. to 80.degree. C., of 1 to 40% by weight of Beta-carotene in an emulsifier through a heating coil located in a heat transfer oil, where the solubilization mixture is at from 120.degree. to 180.degree. C. and the residence time is from 10 to 300 seconds, and subjecting the homogenous solution to turbulent mixing in a mixing chamber with an amount of water at from 10.degree. to 80.degree. C. to result in a solubilizate which contains from 0.5 to 6% by weight of Beta-carotene and is, if necessary, diluted to the required final concentration.

Abstract: A novel strain of Adonis aestivalis having an average of 18-22 petals per flower head and containing an average of 200-350 .mu.g of astaxanthin pigment per flower head is cultivated, harvested and extracted to provide a source of natural astaxanthin. The extracted astaxanthin, or the harvested astaxanthin-containing plant material, can be used for example in salmonid fish diets to promote correct flesh pigmentation of the fish.

Abstract: The present specification relates to an industrially advantageous process for producing vitamin A derivatives which are useful as medicaments, feed additives, food additives and the like. The process provides vitamin A derivatives, particularly all-trans vitamin A derivatives in high yield and purity.

Abstract: A process of preparing symmetric C.sub.40 -carotenoids by reacting a C.sub.15 -triphenylphosphonium salt of the formula ##STR1## and a 2,5-bis(1,1-dialkoxy-2-propyl)-2,5-dihydrofuran to form a reaction product containing a diacetyl and a triphenylphosphonium salt, adding a strong base to the reaction product to convert the triphenylphosphonium salt to a carbenium ion, hydrolyzing the diacetyl to a dialdehyde, subjecting the dialdehyde and the carbenium ion to a Wittig reaction to prepare a Wittig reaction product, and converting the Wittig reaction product to the C.sub.40 -carotenoid by acid treatment.

Abstract: A carotenoid-enriched fraction is extracted from natural sources, such as carrots, by (i) separating the carotenoid-containing natural source into a carotenoid-containing liquid fraction and a pulp fraction, (ii) adding a carotenoid precipitation agent including calcium chloride, calcium hydroxide, calcium lactate or calcium gluconate to the liquid fraction to form a carotenoid-enriched solid precipitate, and (iii) separating the carotenoid-enriched solid precipitate from the carotenoid-depleted liquid portion.

Abstract: Provided is a novel process for readily producing .beta.-carotene by reacting a sulfone compound represented by the general formula (1), (2) or (3) with an alkali, ##STR1## wherein R represents a phenyl group which may be substituted, R' a protecting group of acetal type and X a halogen atom.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is disclosed for separation of fatty acid alkyl esters, carotenoids and tocotrienols from oil. Fatty acids in a vegetable oil are subjected to alcoholic esterification to form an ester-rich layer including fatty acid alkyl esters, carotenoids and tocotrienols. The ester-rich layer is exposed to solvolytic micellization to form a carotenoid-rich layer. The ester-rich layer is separated from the carotenoid-rich layer. The carotenoids in the carotenoid-rich layer are concentrated and can be adsorptively separated from the carotenoid-rich layer. Fatty acid alkyl esters are separated from the ester-rich layer to form a tocotrienol-rich layer. Individual tocotrienols in the tocotrienol-rich layer are adsorptively separated and concentrated.

Abstract: Processes for synthesizing novel phosphonate diester compounds of the general formula ##STR1## are disclosed and claimed. The claimed process includes forming a reaction mixture of a C-14 aldehyde and a methylene-bis-phosphonic acid ester, separating a pentadienyl phosphonic acid dialkyl ester intermediate from the reaction mixture, optionally isomerizing the intermediate in the presence of a basic catalyst, and isolating the desired pentadienylphosphonic acid dialkyl ester compound. The isolated phosphonate compounds made according to the processes of the present invention may be employed in synthesizing retinoids such as retinoic acid or carotenoids such as beta-carotene.

Abstract: Novel phosphonate compounds of the formula ##STR1## are disclosed and claimed, as well as methods for manufacturing the phosphonates from C-14 through C-16 aldehydes. The phosphonate compounds of the present invention can be employed to form 13-cis retinoic acid, retin-A and beta-carotene.

Abstract: 2-Alkyl-2,4-diacyloxy-but-3-enals of the formula ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is alkyl and R.sup.2 is hydrogen, alkyl, a cycloaliphatic radical or an aromatic radical, are prepared by reacting a buta-1,3-diene of the formula ##STR2## with an oxygen donor. The new compounds are valuable intermediates in the preparation of terpenes, e.g. retinal, .beta.-carotin and apocarotinoids.

Abstract: A process for extracting either or both beta-carotene or glycerine from algae containing these substances, especially from algae of the genera Dunaliella.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an electrically conductive polyene, wherein a polyene which contains one or more chain members of the formula where R is hydrogen or methyl, and which contains a total of not less than seven aliphatic double bonds, is treated, in the absence of moisture and of oxygen, with a strong Lewis acid having a pk.sub.a of from -10 to +4, or with an alkali metal.

Abstract: Sulphones useful for preparing polyenes have the formula: ##STR1## where the sulphonyl group replaces a hydrogen atom on carbon atom (a) or (b), R represents alkyl, aralkyl or aryl, optionally substituted, A and Q represent an optionally substituted hydrocarbon of 5n+1 carbon atoms (n is 1-5), methyl, optionally substituted by halogen, sulphide or sulphone, CH.sub.2 OH (or an ether or ester thereof), CHO (optionally protected), COOH (or an acid chloride, ester or nitrile thereof), with the proviso that when A represents a 2-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-1-enyl) ethenyl radical, Q cannot represent --COOH or an ester thereof.

Abstract: A process for the production of symmetrical olefins is provided comprising the reductive coupling of ketones and aldehydes with reactive Ti(II) and/or Ti(O) species.

Abstract: Vitamin A alcohol and its lower alkanoic esters are prepared by desulphonation of corresponding sulphones with a solid potassium alcoholate of a primary or secondary lower alcohol at 10.degree. to 50.degree. C. in an anhydrous liquid hydrocarbon.