Carotenoid dye emulsion preparation

Abstract

The present invention provides a carotenoids color preparation which itself has a high emulsion stability, so that there are no problems such as precipitation of an insoluble matter or neck ring formation even when this preparation is used in water-based products. The preparation is obtained by emulsifying a carotenoids color of natural origin, which has an acid value of 10 or less and an acetone-insoluble content of 5 wt % or less when adjusted so that the color value E 10% 1cm is 2550.

1 . A carotenoids color of natural origin, which has an acid value of 10 or less and an acetone-insoluble content of 5 wt % or less when adjusted so that the color value E 10%   1cm  is 2550.  
     
     
         2 . A carotenoids color emulsion preparation, which is obtained by emulsifying a carotenoids color of natural origin which has an acid value of 10 or less and an acetone-insoluble content of 5 wt % or less when adjusted so that the color value E 10%   1cm  is 2550.  
     
     
         3 . The carotenoids color emulsion preparation according to  claim 2 , which is prepared by a method comprising the following processes: 
 (i) a process in which, if necessary an oil and fat is mixed with the carotenoids color, the carotenoids color or the above-obtained mixture is heated and dissolved so that an oil phase component is prepared,    (ii) a process in which an emulsifying agent and an aqueous phase component are mixed with the oil phase component obtained in the abovementioned process (i), and    (iii) a process in which the mixture obtained in the abovementioned process (ii) is emulsified.    
     
     
         4 . The carotenoids color emulsion preparation according to  claim 3 , which is prepared by performing further (iv) a process in which the emulsified product obtained in the abovementioned process (iii) is dried, or a process in which this product is dried and granulated.  
     
     
         5 . The carotenoids color emulsion preparation according to  claim 2 , which is a color preparation having a liquid-form, powder-form or granular configuration.  
     
     
         6 . The carotenoids color emulsion preparation according to  claim 2 , which contains a carotenoids color at the rate of 0.01 to 50 wt % per 100 wt % of the carotenoids color emulsion preparation.  
     
     
         7 . The carotenoids color emulsion preparation according to  claim 2 , wherein the carotenoids color used as a raw material is at least one color selected from dunaliella carotene, carrot carotene, palm oil carotene, tomato colors, marigold colors, paprika colors, hematococcus algae colors, orange colors, krill colors and phaffia colors.  
     
     
         8 . A product selected from food products, drugs, quasi-drugs, cosmetics, products for daily use and feedstuffs which is colored using the carotenoids color emulsion preparation of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         9 . The product according to  claim 8 , which is a food product.  
     
     
         10 . A method for manufacturing a carotenoids color emulsion preparation, comprising using a carotenoids color of natural origin, which has an acid value of 10 or less and an acetone-insoluble content of 5 wt % or less when adjusted so that the color value E 10%   1cm  is 2550 as a raw material, and emulsifying the carotenoids color.  
     
     
         11 . The method for manufacturing a carotenoids color emulsion preparation according to  claim 10 , wherein the carotenoids color, which has an acid value of 10 or less and an acetone-insoluble content of 5 wt % or less when adjusted so that the color value E 10%   1cm  is 2550, is acquired by treating a carotenoid extract obtained from a carotenoid-containing animal or plant or carotenoid-producing microorganism by at least one method selected from the following methods: 
 (1) a method in which an extraction is performed using an oil and fat or an organic solvent,    (2) a method in which hydrolysis is performed using an alkali, and residual matter is removed by rinsing with water,    (3) a method in which an acid or water is added and heated, and gum substances and proteins are removed by centrifugation,    (4) a method in which a lower monoalcohol is added and alcoholysis is performed to produce a carotenoid-containing fatty acid lower alkyl ester, and residual matter is then removed by rinsing with water,    (5) a method in which washing is performed with a hydrophilic solvent, the carotenoid thus obtained is dissolved in cold acetone, and residual matter is removed by deposition,    (6) a method in which purification is performed using a molecular distillation apparatus, and    (7) a method in which an extraction is performed by means of a supercritical fluid using carbon dioxide, and by emulsifying the carotenoids color.    
     
     
         12 . The method for manufacturing a carotenoids color emulsion preparation according to  claim 10 , comprising the following processes: 
 (i) a process in which, if necessary an oil and fat is mixed with the carotenoids color, the carotenoids color or the above-obtained mixture is heated and dissolved so that an oil phase component is prepared,    (ii) a process in which an emulsifying agent and an aqueous phase component are mixed with the oil phase component obtained in the process (i), and    (iii) a process in which the mixture obtained in the process (ii) is emulsified.    
     
     
         13 . The method for manufacturing a carotenoids color emulsion preparation according to  claim 10 , which further comprises (iv) a process in which the emulsified product obtained in the process (iii) is dried, or a process in which this product is dried and granulated.  
     
     
         14 . A method for stabilizing the emulsification of a liquid-form carotenoids color emulsion preparation, comprising using a carotenoids color of natural origin, which has an acid value of 10 or less and an acetone-insoluble content of 5 wt % or less when adjusted so that the color value E 10%   1cm  is 2550 as a raw-material carotenoids color that is emulsified.  
     
     
         15 . The method for stabilizing the emulsification of a carotenoids color emulsion preparation according to  claim 14 , wherein a carotenoids color as a raw-material carotenoids color that is emulsified, which has an acid value of 10 or less and an acetone-insoluble content of 5 wt % or less when adjusted so that the color value E 10%   1cm  is 2550, is acquired by treating a carotenoid extract obtained from a carotenoid-containing animal or plant or carotenoid-producing microorganism by at least one method selected from the following methods: 
 (1) a method in which an extraction is performed using an oil and fat or an organic solvent,    (2) a method in which hydrolysis is performed using an alkali, and residual matter is removed by rinsing with water,    (3) a method in which an acid or water is added and heated, and gum substances and proteins are removed by centrifugation,    (4) a method in which a lower monoalcohol is added and alcoholysis is performed to produce a carotenoid-containing fatty acid lower alkyl ester, and residual matter is then removed by rinsing with water,    (5) a method in which washing is performed with a hydrophilic solvent, the carotenoid thus obtained is dissolved in cold acetone, and residual matter is removed by deposition,    (6) a method in which purification is performed using a molecular distillation apparatus, and    (7) a method in which an extraction is performed by means of a supercritical fluid using carbon dioxide.    
     
     
         16 . The method for stabilizing the emulsification of a carotenoids color emulsion preparation according to  claim 14 , wherein the carotenoids color emulsion preparation is prepared by a method comprising the following process: 
 (i) a process in which, if necessary an oil and fat is mixed with the carotenoids color, the carotenoids color or the above-obtained mixture is heated and dissolved so that an oil phase component is prepared,    (ii) a process in which an emulsifying agent and an aqueous phase component are mixed with the oil phase component obtained in the process (i), and    (iii) a process in which the mixture obtained in the process (ii) is emulsified.    
     
     
         17 . A method for suppressing neck ring formation or the deposition of insoluble matter in water-based products caused by the deterioration of the emulsified particles of an emulsified color preparation, comprising using the carotenoids color emulsion preparation of  claim 2  as a colorant to color the water-based product.  
     
     
         18 . The method for suppressing neck ring formation or the deposition of insoluble matter according to  claim 17 , wherein the water-based product is a beverage.  
     
     
         19 . A use of a carotenoids color of natural origin, which has an acid value of 10 or less and an acetone-insoluble content of 5 wt % or less when adjusted so that the color value E 10%   1cm  is 2550, for the manufacture of a carotenoids color emulsion preparation.  
     
     
         20 . The use of a carotenoids color for the manufacture of a carotenoids color emulsion preparation according to  claim 19 , wherein the carotenoids color is a color obtained by treating a carotenoid extract obtained from a carotenoid-containing animal or plant or carotenoid-producing microorganism by at least one method selected from the following methods: 
 (1) a method in which an extraction is performed using an oil and fat or an organic solvent,    (2) a method in which hydrolysis is performed using an alkali, and residual matter is removed by rinsing with water,    (3) a method in which an acid or water is added and heated, and gum substances and proteins are removed by centrifugal separation,    (4) a method in which a lower monoalcohol is added and alcoholysis is performed to produce a carotenoid-containing fatty acid lower alkyl ester, and residual matter is then removed by rinsing with water,    (5) a method in which washing is performed with a hydrophilic solvent, the carotenoid thus obtained is dissolved in cold acetone, and residual matter is removed by deposition,    (6) a method in which purification is performed using a molecular distillation apparatus, and    (7) a method in which an extraction is performed by means of a supercritical fluid using carbon dioxide.    
     
     
         21 . The use of a carotenoids color for the manufacture of a carotenoids color emulsion preparation according to  claim 20 , wherein the manufacture of the carotenoids color emulsion preparation comprises the following processes (i) through (iii): 
 (i) a process in which, if necessary an oil and fat is mixed with the carotenoids color, the carotenoids color or the above-obtained mixture is heated and dissolved so that an oil phase component is prepared,    (ii) a process in which an emulsifying agent and an aqueous phase component are mixed with the oil phase component obtained in the process (i), and    (iii) a process in which the mixture obtained in the process (ii) is emulsified.