This invention has disclosed a method for preparation of food-grade
zeaxanthin through chemical isomerizaton reaction from lutein. The
technical issues to be solved in this invention are quite low product
yield obtained with existing methods, need of purification treatment
process, and inadaptability to industrialized production. The technical
schemes of this invention are: a. Mix xanthophyll crystal or its fatty
acid ester with food-grade glycol or propylene glycol, for full
dissolution under 60-90.degree. C. temperature. Add organic alkali into
the mixed liquor acquired from step 1, for isomerization reaction to take
place under inertial environment. c. Dilute the reaction solution gained
from step b with the mixed solution of deionized water and ethanol, and
separate the obtained crystal with conventional separating method. d.
Vacuum dries the acquired crystal from step c, to get the zeaxanthin
crystal. Glycol or propylene glycol is used in this invention for
isomerization reaction under inertial environment after it has fully
dissolved raw material under proper temperature. The product yield is
reachable to more than 60%, very adaptable to industrialized product,
without the need for further purification treatment.