Purifying and crystallizing lutein from marigold (FloraGLO)

1. Key points of this patent

What it protects: A process for isolating lutein from saponified marigold oleoresin and purifying it into crystals, and the crystals themselves. Saponified marigold extract is washed with water and alcohol to crystallize lutein, which is then recrystallized for higher purity. The specification prefers a mixture of dichloromethane (a halogenated solvent) and hexane for recrystallization.

2. What the specification says

Lutein made up about 70% of the crude crystals and over 97% after recrystallization. Other carotenoids left in the recrystallized lutein totaled 2.18% (zeaxanthin 1.51%).

US 5,382,714: what the specification says

Item	Crude crystals (before recrystallization)	After recrystallization	Where in the specification
Lutein purity	About 70% (the specification says this may suit animal feed)	Over 97% (for human consumption)	Detailed description; Example 1
Lutein (E form) and its isomers (Z forms)	—	94.79% and 3.03% (97.82% together)	Table I
Other carotenoids	—	2.18% in total (zeaxanthin 1.51%)	Table I

Item	Details
Patent number	US 5,382,714
Type	Process patent (A patent that protects a manufacturing method)
Related ingredient brand	FloraGLO (Kemin held an exclusive license; news reports, 2007)
Ingredients	Lutein
Holder / applicant	Catholic University of America
Filed	3/17/1994
Registered	1/17/1995
Expires	3/17/2014 (expired)
Notes

1. Key points of this patent

2. What the specification says

3. Patent details