Separation of β‐Carotene Mixtures Precipitated from Liquid Solvents with High‐Pressure CO₂

Abstract

Abstract Solids precipitation from liquid solvents, with dissolution by high‐pressure CO 2 as an antisolvent to create supersaturation, is a potentially attractive crystallization process. Solids can be recrystallized and easily isolated from the liquid solvent. The gas antisolvent solvent (GAS) process was used to separate and purify β‐carotene from a mixture containing carotene oxidation products. Total β‐carotene was successfully separated from oxides, and an enriched traras‐β‐carotene was obtained from its cis isomers. The separation was carried out in both batch and continuous modes. Relative solubility of the analytes and the antisolvent (CO 2 ) have a dramatic influence on the absolute yield and purity of the product.