DE202021003892U1 - Paste containing astaxanthin - Google Patents

Abstract

Astaxanthin-containing paste, characterized in that it contains the following components processed into a pasty mass:
• 20-90% by weight of dried astaxanthin-containing biomass, which has a residual moisture content of at most 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the dried astaxanthin-containing biomass; and
• 10-80% by weight of an oil additive component comprising at least one oil and/or oil mixture;
wherein the astaxanthin-containing biomass and the oil additive component together make 100% by weight based on the astaxanthin-containing paste,
wherein the astaxanthin-containing paste has a total moisture content of at most 7% by weight based on the total weight of the paste and an astaxanthin content of 2 to 10% by weight based on the total weight of the paste.

Description

The invention relates to an astaxanthin-containing paste based on astaxanthin-containing biomass and products containing the paste according to the invention.

This disclosure also describes a method for producing the astaxanthin-containing paste according to the invention and uses of the paste.

• Wasserfeuchte Algen-Biomasse, die auch als wasserfeuchte Algenpaste bezeichnet wird, ist aufgrund ihres hohen Wassergehaltes von bis zu 85% und der damit einhergehenden, meist hohen bakteriellen Belastung nicht lange lagerfähig und verdirbt schnell. Eine solche wasserfeuchte Algenpaste wird vor allem als Futtermittel für Aquakulturen in der Fischzucht eingesetzt und muss für eine längere Lagerung typischerweise tiefgekühlt werden, was aufwendig ist.

Numerous applications of astaxanthin-containing biomass, which is mostly obtained by cultivating algae, are already known from the prior art. Biomass is currently mostly used in one of the forms or formulations described below:

• Water-moist algae biomass, which is also referred to as water-moist algae paste, cannot be stored for long due to its high water content of up to 85% and the associated, usually high bacterial load and spoils quickly. Such a water-moist algae paste is primarily used as feed for aquacultures in fish farming and typically has to be deep-frozen for longer storage, which is expensive.

Although dried astaxanthin-containing biomass is microbiologically more stable due to its low water content, it is disadvantageously exposed to rapid oxidation due to the open pore structure and the high specific surface area. Valuable ingredients such as lipids, omega-3 fatty acids or antioxidants can come into contact with atmospheric oxygen via the open pore system and the large specific surface area and, disadvantageously, quickly degrade through oxidation. Stabilization of dry biomass therefore usually requires the use of antioxidants such as tocopherol. In addition, dry biomass material tends to form dust and, due to the formation of agglomerates and the resulting large accumulations of particles, can only be mixed into recipes insufficiently.

Extracted biomass, specifically a lipid-rich extract containing astaxanthin, is usually obtained from the biomass by solvent or CO ₂ extraction and is microbiologically stable and easy to store due to its low water content. However, production by means of extraction is complex and expensive, since additional extraction agents such as chemical solvents or supercritical CO ₂ (carbon dioxide) are required. Such astaxanthin-containing extracts obtained from biomass can, for example, be further processed into gels or water-soluble formulations.

Furthermore, the production of astaxanthin from microalgae on an industrial scale is already known from the prior art. Microalgae are unicellular organisms that grow in salt or fresh water, mostly under the influence of light and absorbing carbon. Such microalgae can carry out photosynthesis and thus produce not only oxygen but also proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and special valuable substances such as pigments, carotenoids and unsaturated fatty acids. The carotenoid astaxanthin can be obtained as a valuable substance from the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis, for example, and used in the area of food supplements, cosmetics or for medical-related products. However, the production processes required for this are complex: Usually, a pre-cultivation of the aqueous algae suspension, the separation and subsequent drying of the biomass are provided before the dried biomass can be stored or, for example, further processed into a microalgae powder. In order to prevent undesirable oxidation during storage, suitable antioxidants such as BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) must be added to the dried biomass. As an alternative to microalgae, astaxanthin can also be extracted microbiologically using xanthophyll yeasts (e.g. Phaffia Rhodozyma, Yarrowia Lipolytica ...) or bacteria (e.g. Paracoccus carotinifaciens). In contrast to the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis, which typically has a weight fraction of 2-6% in the biomass, yeasts and bacteria generally cannot accumulate such high concentrations of astaxanthin, usually below 1-2% by weight astaxanthin in the biomass.

By definition, fats, whether solid or liquid, are grouped together under the umbrella term “lipids” as is often used herein. Oils are fats that are liquid at room temperature. Once fat is liquid at room temperature, it is called oil or fixed oil. The low melting range of oils is primarily caused by a high proportion of unsaturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids. From a chemical point of view, solid and liquid fats follow the same basic pattern. Fats that are solid at room temperature contain high proportions of long and saturated fatty acids, whereas the fatty acids in the liquid oils are predominantly mono- or polyunsaturated.

By definition, the term "weight percent" (in short: weight %) used here corresponds to the mass fraction (in percent) of a mixture component.

Microorganisms in general and microalgae in particular naturally contain lipids, the proportion of which can be over 50% depending on the type and production method. After appropriate drying to an appropriate residual moisture content of at most 10% by weight, these lipids are bound in the biomass cells and the dried biomass is present as a powder, granules or flaked material, depending on the particle size of the agglomerates. After mechanical comminution, in which the grain size of the agglomerates is reduced and, for example, can be adjusted to agglomerate sizes of less than 500 μm (microns), a relatively solid, oily mass is obtained, which, however, is not flowable and therefore cannot be pumped, which is disadvantageous for further processing, as this solid, oily mass can only be processed in batches. In particular, a continuous procedure during further processing is not possible at all because of the lack of flowability or pumpability of merely mechanically comminuted biomass.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages known from the prior art and to provide an astaxanthin-containing paste in a particularly advantageous formulation. In particular, one of the primary goals is to provide an astaxanthin-containing paste with improved storage stability, which can be stored for long periods of time without the need for low-temperature storage, which can be produced at low production costs and can be used in a practical manner in further processing to astaxanthin-containing products .

• • 20 - 90 Gew.-% getrocknete Astaxanthin-haltige Biomasse, die einen Restfeuchtegehalt von höchstens 10 Gew.-% bezogen auf das Gesamtgewicht der getrockneten Astaxanthin-haltigen Biomasse aufweist; und
• • 10 - 80 Gew.-% einer Ölzusatzkomponente, welche zumindest ein Öl und/oder Ölgemisch umfasst;

wobei die Astaxanthin-haltige Biomasse und die Ölzusatzkomponente zusammen 100 Gew.-% bezogen auf die Astaxanthin-haltige Paste ergeben,
wobei die Astaxanthin-haltige Paste einen Gesamtfeuchtegehalt von höchstens 7 Gew.-% in Bezug auf das Gesamtgewicht der Paste und einen Astaxanthin-Gehalt von 2 bis 10 Gew.-% in Bezug auf das Gesamtgewicht der Paste aufweist.These objects are achieved by an astaxanthin-containing paste according to the features of claim 1. Preferred developments are reflected in the dependent claims. According to the invention, the astaxanthin-containing paste is characterized in that it contains the following components processed into a pasty mass:

• • 20-90% by weight of dried astaxanthin-containing biomass, which has a residual moisture content of at most 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the dried astaxanthin-containing biomass; and
• • 10-80% by weight of an oil additive component comprising at least one oil and/or oil mixture;

wherein the astaxanthin-containing biomass and the oil additive component together make 100% by weight based on the astaxanthin-containing paste,
wherein the astaxanthin-containing paste has a total moisture content of at most 7% by weight based on the total weight of the paste and an astaxanthin content of 2 to 10% by weight based on the total weight of the paste.

• • Die erfindungsgemäße Paste wird direkt ohne Extraktion aus Astaxanthin-haltiger Biomasse gewonnen; es ist daher kein aufwändiger Extraktionsschritt notwendig. Die Fertigungskosten sind im Vergleich zu dem oben beschriebenen, aus dem Stand der Technik bekannten Verfahren deutlich geringer und die gesamten wertvollen Inhaltsstoffe der Zellen verbleiben in der Paste.
• • Durch die Verarbeitung der Biomasse und der Ölzusatzkomponente zu einer pastösen Masse ist die Paste einerseits sehr homogen und hat eine angenehme sensorische Wahrnehmung. Andererseits ist die Paste dadurch fließfähig und somit pumpbar, pasteurisierbar und maschinell abfüllbar. Zudem lässt sich die Paste gut in Ölen, Teigen, Salben und sonstigen hydrophoben Phasen einmischen.
• • Durch die pastöse Struktur erfolgt kein Tropfen, kein Stauben und auch kein ungewolltes Ausfließen und ermöglicht dadurch eine einfache Lagerung.
• • Die Paste besitzt einen sehr guten Schutz gegen Oxidation, was zu einer erhöhten Lagerfähigkeit und Stabilität (Shelflife) führt.
• • Aufgrund des geringen Wassergehalts ist die Wasseraktivität der Paste gering, weshalb diese eine hohe mikrobiologische Stabilität aufweist. Die Paste weist deshalb eine geringe Keimzahl und dadurch eine ausgezeichnete Haltbarkeit und Lebensmittelsicherheit auf.
• • Zur Einstellung der Viskosität ist kein Zusatz von Wasser oder Verdickungsmittel notwendig, wodurch die Paste ein pures, natürliches Produkt ist.
• • Das Astaxanthin in der erfindungsgemäßen Paste stammt ausschließlich aus der Astaxanthin-haltigen Biomasse und somit aus natürlichen biologischen Quellen. Der Paste wird kein synthetisch hergestelltes Astaxanthin zugesetzt, d.h. die Astaxanthin-haltige Paste ist frei von synthetisch hergestelltem Astaxanthin.

The astaxanthin-containing paste according to the invention has the following advantages:

• • The paste according to the invention is obtained directly without extraction from astaxanthin-containing biomass; no complex extraction step is therefore necessary. The production costs are significantly lower compared to the process known from the prior art described above and all the valuable ingredients of the cells remain in the paste.
• • Due to the processing of the biomass and the oil additive component into a pasty mass, the paste is very homogeneous on the one hand and has a pleasant sensory perception. On the other hand, the paste is free-flowing and can therefore be pumped, pasteurized and filled by machine. In addition, the paste can be easily mixed into oils, doughs, ointments and other hydrophobic phases.
• • Due to the pasty structure there is no dripping, no dusting and also no unintentional spillage, thus enabling easy storage.
• • The paste has very good protection against oxidation, which leads to increased shelf life and shelf life.
• • Due to the low water content, the water activity of the paste is low, which is why it has high microbiological stability. The paste therefore has a low germ count and therefore excellent shelf life and food safety.
• • No addition of water or thickening agent is necessary to adjust the viscosity, making the paste a pure, natural product.
• • The astaxanthin in the paste according to the invention comes exclusively from the astaxanthin-containing biomass and thus from natural biological sources. No synthetically produced astaxanthin is added to the paste, ie the paste containing astaxanthin is free of synthetically produced astaxanthin.

In an advantageous embodiment, the astaxanthin-containing paste contains 40-85% by weight of the dried astaxanthin-containing biomass and 15-60% by weight of the oil additive component.

The dried astaxanthin-containing biomass preferably comes from algae, particularly preferably from the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis, and/or from microorganisms, particularly preferably yeasts (Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous/Phaffia rhodozyma) or bacteria.

However, it is particularly advantageous if the dried astaxanthin-containing biomass comprises or consists of dried Haematococcus pluvialis algae. As mentioned at the beginning, the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis typically has a very high weight proportion of 2-6% astaxanthin in the (non-dried) biomass compared to other organisms.

The lower the total moisture content of the astaxanthin-containing paste, the better the shelf life of the paste itself or of the products made with it.

The dried astaxanthin-containing biomass therefore advantageously has a residual moisture content of at most 7% by weight, preferably at most 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the dried astaxanthin-containing biomass.

An oil additive component that is as water-free as possible is expediently used to obtain improved storage stability. Accordingly, it is advantageous if the oil additive component has a moisture content (water content) of at most 0.5% by weight, based on the oil additive component, and is preferably free of water.

It is also an advantage if the astaxanthin-containing paste preferably has a total moisture content of no more than 6% by weight, more preferably no more than 5% by weight, even more preferably no more than 4% by weight, most preferably no more than 3% by weight % by weight, based on the total weight of the paste. Due to a correspondingly low water content, biological activity in the paste is practically impossible. If necessary, the paste according to the invention can be gently pasteurized in a continuous flow using conventional equipment. It has been shown, for example, that with a maximum total moisture content of 4% by weight, an astaxanthin-containing paste with excellent microbiological stability and outstanding storage properties is present.

According to the invention, the astaxanthin-containing paste has an astaxanthin content of 2 to 10% by weight in relation to the total weight of the paste. In certain advantageous embodiments, the astaxanthin-containing paste has an astaxanthin content of 3 to 8% by weight in relation to the total weight of the paste.

When using the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis as a starting product or as a dried astaxanthin-containing biomass, around 80% to 100% of the carotenoid content contained therein can be astaxanthin. Such an astaxanthin-containing paste with a carotenoid content, for example, of 10% by weight based on the total weight of the paste can thus contain an astaxanthin content of 8 to 10% by weight based on the total weight of the paste. Depending on the application, it can be particularly advantageous, especially in the case of food supplements, to adjust the astaxanthin content in the paste to 3 to 8% by weight based on the total weight of the paste, in order to avoid a possible overdose of astaxanthin for consumers when taking such preparations .

Fat-soluble carotenoids are known to be valuable antioxidant agents that can have a positive effect on the health, vitality and resistance of humans and animals. They should ideally come from natural sources and should be ingested together with fats. Avoid overdosing. Astaxanthin as a carotenoid is listed with a maximum daily dose of 8 mg according to the EFSA recommendation (short for: European Food Safety Agency); the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers a maximum daily dose of 12 mg astaxanthin to be acceptable. An astaxanthin content of at most 10% by weight in a preferred variant of the paste according to the invention prevents overdosing. Preferably, the astaxanthin content should be about 3 to 8% by weight: This can also be accomplished particularly economically, since such an astaxanthin content can usually be covered directly by typical microalgae without having to further process the microalgae by physical or chemical processes.

This can be a decisive advantage when the paste is administered in the form of capsules or tablets, for example, since the flexibly adjustable astaxanthin content means that incorrect dosing, i.e. overdosing or underdosing, can be ruled out in the form of administration selected. In this way, for example, food supplement products, cosmetic products or medical-related products can be produced using a paste according to the invention with a defined content of astaxanthin.

It is particularly expedient with regard to pumpability if the astaxanthin-containing paste has a viscosity at 25° C. of 10 to 100 Pas (Pascal seconds), preferably 15 to 50 Pas, particularly preferably 20 to 40 Pas.

Dynamic viscosity is a characteristic property of fluids. This is what free-flowing substances are called, regardless of whether they are liquids, gases or even solids, such as bulk goods. Viscosity is a measure of resistance to plastic deformation associated with flow. As a unit of measure, viscosity corresponds to the reciprocal of fluidity, i.e. the ability to flow. For technical applications, fluids are divided into three categories, namely low-viscosity, medium-viscosity and high-viscosity substances. Most of the free-flowing substances that we usually deal with in everyday life belong to the low-viscosity group, with water leading the way. The limits of the ranges are around 300 mPas (millipascal seconds) for the transition between low and medium-viscosity substances. The highly viscous fluids begin at around 8000 mPas. This classification based on viscosity also determines which equipment is suitable for dosing and pumping such fluids. The measurement of the viscosity of fluids, e.g., with a viscometer, is well known to those skilled in the art and needs no further explanation.

According to this classification, the astaxanthin-containing paste according to the invention is a highly viscous fluid that can be pumped and filled mechanically and, if necessary, can also be pasteurized with common equipment. The paste can advantageously be filled into tubes or squeeze bags, for example, which enables clean dosing and hygienic, germ-free storage.

In order to make dried, powdery biomass pumpable, it usually requires a liquid as a dispersing agent. The addition of water as a dispersing agent is disadvantageous, however, since the microbiological stability and thus ultimately the storability of the paste at storage temperatures above 0° C. is severely restricted. Deep-frozen storage of such a water-moist paste is expensive and uneconomical. The astaxanthin-containing paste according to the invention combines, among other things, the advantages of a sufficiently low viscosity to make the paste pumpable and thus easier to process, with a sufficiently low water content to ensure the lowest possible water activity and thus a sufficiently stable shelf life of the paste according to the invention at storage temperatures above reach 0°C.

According to general technical knowledge and according to this disclosure, the term “particle diameter” is understood to mean an equivalent diameter which enables irregularly shaped biomass particles to be compared with the properties of a regularly shaped particle. For the sake of simplicity, the geometric equivalent diameter, in particular the volume-equivalent sphere diameter, is considered here as the particle diameter, which indicates the diameter of a sphere with the same volume as the particle under consideration.

A particle diameter D100 of 10 mm, for example, indicates the maximum particle size of a particle size distribution, in which case, by definition, 100% of all the biomass particles present in the paste are smaller than 10 mm. However, larger biomass agglomerates are preferably further comminuted during production of the paste (for a description of the production process, see below) and typically have particle diameters of 3 to 5 mm, ie a particle diameter D100 of 5 mm.

A particle diameter D50 indicates the mean particle size. D50 means that 50% of the particles are smaller than the specified value. The particle diameter D90 is a measure of the largest particles in a particle size distribution. D90 means that 90% of all particles are smaller than the specified value.

In a further embodiment, it can be advantageous if the particle size distribution in the astaxanthin-containing paste has a particle diameter D90 smaller than 10 μm, preferably a particle diameter D90 smaller than 5 μm, and/or a particle diameter D50 smaller than 5 μm, preferably a particle diameter D50 less than 3 µm.

As previously defined, a particle diameter D50 indicates the mean particle size of the particles present in the paste. D50 means that 50% of the particles are smaller than the specified value of 5 µm or preferably 3 µm. The particle diameter D90 is a measure of the largest particles in a particle size distribution. D90 means that 90% of all particles are smaller than the specified value of 10 µm or preferably 5 µm.

A very small, uniform particle size distribution with very small particle diameters offers the advantage that the paste according to the invention has very homogeneous properties, can be pumped or can be pumped and can therefore be continuously conveyed and filled by machine. In addition, a homogeneous, finely structured paste without noticeable particles is obtained. Consequently, the paste obtained does not feel sandy, but rather particularly creamy, which, depending on the application, is perceived by the consumer as being of particularly high quality, for example for cosmetics. A relatively narrow particle size distribution improves the homogeneous appearance and the further processability of the paste. If, in a particularly preferred variant of the invention, 90% of the particles in the paste are crushed below 5 μm, the cell walls of typical microalgae such as Haematoccus pluvialis are generally reliably broken up and the cell content and thus the valuable ingredients of the microalgae become particularly readily bioavailable .

In order to meet individual requirements, the lipid content in the paste can be 45 to 75% by weight, preferably 48 to 70% by weight, particularly preferably 50 to 65% by weight, based on the total weight of the paste.

The physical properties such as the texture, the spreadability and the flow behavior of the paste obtained can advantageously be influenced by adjusting the lipid content. Depending on the individual requirements of the paste, the viscosity and/or the water content of the paste, for example, can be influenced by appropriately varying the lipid content. A lipid content of between 50 and 60% by weight can be particularly advantageous here, since a paste with a good pasty structure and sufficient flow properties coupled with good spreadability is thus achieved. As a result, the paste can, for example, be filled in a form that is as concentrated as possible in packaging typical for paste, such as jars, tubes or squeeze bags, stored and then cleanly dosed. Further advantages due to the oil content and the paste-like formulation of the paste are a very good finish and protection of oxidatively sensitive valuable substances as ingredients of the paste against oxidation.

It can be particularly expedient if at least one part of the oil additive component is selected from the group consisting of: vegetable oil, animal oil, microbiological oil; Blend of oils of vegetable origin, Blend of oils of animal origin, Blend of oils of microbiological origin.

By means of the oil additive component, it is possible to increase the lipid content by adding additional, preferably edible lipids, which are present in the oil additive component, to dry biomass and thus obtain a flowable mass which can subsequently be comminuted by grinding, for example in a wet mill . It can be advantageous, for example, to use readily available edible oils either as a single type or in mixtures as part of the oil additive component.

In certain developments of the paste according to the invention, the oil additive component can also include at least one additive that is selected from the group consisting of preservatives, colorants, antioxidants and/or valuable substances. For this purpose, the other additives such as recyclables, preservatives, dyes or unsaturated fatty acids are added to the biomass with the oil additive component. The astaxanthin-containing paste is advantageously of such a nature that it is flowable and pumpable and can therefore be produced as simply and inexpensively as possible in a continuous process on an industrial scale. In addition, valuable substances such as pigments, carotenoids other than astaxanthin and/or unsaturated fatty acids can be pasted with the biomass as part of the oil additive component.

Another object of the present invention relates to an edible preparation comprising an astaxanthin-containing paste according to the invention. Preferably, the edible preparation is a dietary supplement composition, a foodstuff or a feedstuff; see also the specific exemplary embodiments below. The concentration of the astaxanthin in the food supplement composition, the food or the animal feed advantageously corresponds to the astaxanthin content permitted or recommended for these products.

The invention therefore also relates to a food supplement composition which comprises the paste according to the invention in formulated form. In an advantageous embodiment, the edible preparation is a dietary supplement composition formulated in unit dosage form, preferably in the form of a soft or hard capsule preparation or a tablet. The dietary supplement composition is preferably formulated such that the concentration of astaxanthin per dose unit is in the range of 2-10 mg per dose unit, preferably 3-8 mg/dose unit. As mentioned above, an overdose should be avoided and astaxanthin is currently considered to be a maximum daily dose of 8 mg according to the EFSA recommendation and 12 mg according to the US. FDA recommendation listed. Preferably, the daily intake of astaxanthin is no more than 8 mg astaxanthin.

The invention also makes it possible to provide food or feed containing astaxanthin. Normally the concentration of astaxanthin is in the range of 4 to 45 mg/kg of the respective food or feed. The astaxanthin-containing paste according to the invention is expediently used in a mixture with common feed, food or nutrient components, and is suitably mixed with other nutritional components used in food and feed for this purpose during the packaging of the food or feed, which preferably consists of proteins and carbohydrate sources, fats or oils and micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. See also exemplary embodiments further below.

In advantageous embodiments, the edible preparation is in the form of a pelleted foodstuff, for example in the form of food pellets or dog biscuits. See also exemplary embodiments further below.

Another subject of the present invention relates to a cosmetic product comprising an astaxanthin-containing paste according to the invention. The cosmetic product is preferably in a form suitable for external application to the skin. Depending on the application, the cosmetic product can be, for example, a cream, an ointment, an emulsion, a lotion, a pasty cosmetic product, a face mask, or a solid such as a soap. See also the exemplary embodiments below.

The astaxanthin-containing paste according to the invention is advantageously used in food supplements, preferably as a component of food supplements, as a food additive, as a feed additive or as a cosmetic additive. See also the specific, non-limiting exemplary embodiments below.

1. [A] Bereitstellen von getrockneter Astaxanthin-haltiger Biomasse und Bereitstellen einer Ölzusatzkomponente, wobei die Astaxanthin-haltige Biomasse und die Ölzusatzkomponente wie in dieser Offenbarung definiert sind;
2. [B] Mischen der getrockneten Astaxanthin-haltigen Biomasse mit der Ölzusatzkomponente zum Erhalt eines Biomasse-Ölzusatzkomponente-Gemischs, wobei ein Mischungsverhältnis von 10 bis 80 Gew.-%, vorzugsweise von 15 bis 60 Gew.-%, an Ölzusatzkomponente bezogen auf die Biomasse gewählt wird, wobei das Mischungsverhältnis so gewählt wird, dass das erhaltene Biomasse-Ölzusatzkomponente-Gemisch einen Gesamtfeuchtegehalt von höchstens 7 Gew.-%, vorzugsweise von höchstens 6 Gew.-%, mehr bevorzugt von höchstens 5 Gew.-%, noch mehr bevorzugt von höchstens 4 Gew.-%, am meisten bevorzugt von höchstens 3 Gew. %, in Bezug auf das Gesamtgewicht des Biomasse-Ölzusatzkomponente-Gemischs und einen Astaxanthin-Gehalt von 2 bis 10 Gew.-%, vorzugsweise von 3 bis 8 Gew.-%, in Bezug auf das Gesamtgewicht des Biomasse-Ölzusatzkomponente-Gemischs aufweist.
3. [C] Mahlen des Biomasse-Ölzusatzkomponente-Gemisches zu einer pastösen Masse zum Erhalt der Astaxanthin-haltigen Paste gemäß der Erfindung.

In the following a method for the production of an astaxanthin-containing paste according to the invention and as disclosed herein is described, the production method comprising the following sequential steps:

1. [A] providing dried astaxanthin-containing biomass and providing an oil additive component, wherein the astaxanthin-containing biomass and the oil additive component are as defined in this disclosure;
2. [B] Mixing the dried astaxanthin-containing biomass with the oil additive component to obtain a biomass-oil additive component mixture, with a mixing ratio of 10 to 80% by weight, preferably from 15 to 60% by weight, of the oil additive component based on the biomass is selected, the mixing ratio being selected such that the biomass-oil additive component mixture obtained has a total moisture content of at most 7% by weight, preferably at most 6% by weight, more preferably at most 5% by weight, even more preferably of at most 4% by weight, most preferably at most 3% by weight, based on the total weight of the biomass-oil additive component mixture and an astaxanthin content of 2 to 10% by weight, preferably 3 to 8% by weight. -%, based on the total weight of the biomass-oil additive component mixture.
3. [C] Grinding the biomass-oil additive component mixture into a paste-like mass to obtain the astaxanthin-containing paste according to the invention.

In order to increase readability, the selected abbreviations of the individual process steps are given in the form of letters (e.g.: [A], [B], [C]) or letter/number combinations (e.g. [A-II.a]) in the further running text. ) are given in square brackets [...]. In the schematic figures, the same abbreviations are used for the corresponding process steps as in the continuous text.

In the production process described here, the lipid content of the dried biomass is increased by adding the oil additive component, which contains at least one oil or oil mixture, and a flowable mass is obtained, which is then further comminuted by grinding, for example in a wet mill, and processed into a pasty mass.

According to method step [A], dried astaxanthin-containing biomass as described and defined herein and an oil additive component as described and defined herein are provided. In the following, for a better understanding of the reader, the provision of the astaxanthin-containing biomass using a sub-step [A-BM] (BM = biomass) and the provision of the oil additive component are described using a sub-step [A-ÖZK] (ÖZK = oil additive component) and also in the enclosed one 1 and 2 and the figure description used in this form. However, the order of the sub-steps [A-BM] and [A-ÖZK] in method step [A] is irrelevant.

According to process step [A]/sub-step [A-BM], dried astaxanthin-containing biomass is provided as described and defined herein, which contains at most 10% by weight of residual moisture. The biomass provided is preferably even drier and has a residual moisture content of below 7% by weight if possible, particularly preferably a residual moisture content of below 5% by weight. For example, it can be expedient to provide dried biomass with a residual moisture content of about 7% by weight for further processing. In such a case, an economic compromise can be achieved between not too high a moisture content of the biomass, which is therefore not a problem in the further course of the process, and a justifiable drying effort for the biomass. The lower the residual moisture content of the dried biomass used, the easier and more economical the process can be. With a comparatively low water content in the starting product, the resulting paste according to the invention can also be produced particularly economically with a low residual moisture content and, associated therewith, with high storage stability.

It can be particularly advantageous to provide biomass which comprises or consists of dried Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae.

By providing the oil additive component as described herein and defined in process step [A]/substep [A-ÖZK], which is as free as possible of water, and then mixing the dried biomass and the oil additive component according to process step [B], depending on the selected mixing ratio, a biomass -Oil additive component mixture with a total moisture content of at most 7% by weight. The lower the total moisture content of the biomass-oil additive component mixture is set, the better the storage stability of the biomass-oil additive component mixture or the paste produced from it. The mixing ratio of dried biomass with an oil additive component that is as water-free as possible is preferably selected such that a total moisture content of the biomass-oil additive component mixture of at most 5% by weight, particularly preferably at most 3% by weight, is achieved.

The mixing ratio of the oil additive component based on the biomass used can be individually adjusted in process step [B] depending on the individual properties of the biomass provided and on the desired physical properties of the respective paste to be produced. For example, in the case of a provided biomass with a comparatively higher residual moisture content, for example 8% by weight residual moisture, it can be expedient to add a higher proportion of largely anhydrous oil additive component in order to reduce the moisture content of the biomass-oil additive component mixture as much as possible. Other properties such as the dynamic viscosity of the paste, measured in Pas (Pascal seconds), or the oxidation resistance and thus the shelf life of the paste can also be influenced by the selected mixing ratio of oil additive component to biomass and by a suitable selection and composition of the respective oil additive component. In view of the teaching of this disclosure, a person skilled in this field of technology is readily able to adapt the mixing ratio of biomass to oil additive component to individual requirements on the basis of their general specialist knowledge and on the basis of simple routine tests.

Intensive mixing in process step [B] dissolves the agglomerates still present after drying the biomass, and a homogeneous and free-flowing or spreadable mass of a mixture of biomass and oil additive components is advantageously produced in this way. A compulsory mixer, gravity mixer or cutter, for example, can be used as the mixing element.

In the subsequent process step [C], the biomass-oil additive component mixture is comminuted, for example in a mill, preferably in a wet mill, the particle sizes of the biomass being reduced compared to the original particle sizes of the biomass cells. Disk mills, colloid mills, ball mills or impact mills, for example, can be used as wet mills with particularly intensive grinding. By crushing and opening the cell envelopes during grinding, the ingredients of the biomass cells are made biologically very readily available. The cell contents are homogeneously incorporated into the lipid matrix and any air bubbles in the cell pores are displaced by grinding and mechanically destroying the cell structures. Advantageously, oxidation-sensitive valuable substances such as unsaturated fatty acids, pigments and antioxidants contained in the biomass are surrounded by lipids and thus protected from further harmful oxidation.

When using microalgae as biomass, all the ingredients of the microalgae, ie also lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, trace elements and dietary fibers, are advantageously retained in the resulting paste according to the invention with the gentle production process described here.

As already described in detail above, the oil additive component used can be of vegetable, animal and/or microbiological origin. Other additives such as recyclables, preservatives, dyes or unsaturated fatty acids can also be added to the biomass together with the oil additive component. The axanthin-containing paste produced is advantageously of such a nature that it is flowable and pumpable and can therefore be produced as simply and inexpensively as possible in a continuous process on an industrial scale.

• [A-I] Bereitstellen einer wässrigen Suspension Astaxanthin-haltiger Biomasse;
• [A-II] Abtrennen einer ersten Wasserfraktion von der wässrigen Suspension, wobei ein wässriges Konzentrat erhalten wird;
• [A-III] Trocknen des wässrigen Konzentrats, wobei eine zweite Wasserfraktion abgetrennt wird, bis eine getrocknete Astaxanthin-haltige Biomasse mit einem Restfeuchtegehalt von höchstens 10 Gew.%, vorzugsweise von höchstens 7 Gew. %, besonders bevorzugt von höchstens 5 Gew.%, erhalten wird.

It can be particularly advantageous if, in the production process described, the dried astaxanthin-containing biomass provided in process step [A] is obtained by means of a sequence of the following processing steps:

• [AI] providing an aqueous suspension of astaxanthin-containing biomass;
• [A-II] separating a first water fraction from the aqueous suspension to obtain an aqueous concentrate;
• [A-III] Drying of the aqueous concentrate, with a second water fraction being separated off, until a dried astaxanthin-containing biomass with a residual moisture content of at most 10% by weight, preferably at most 7% by weight, particularly preferably at most 5% by weight , is obtained.

According to this variant of the production method described, it is also advantageous to use biomass-based starting materials with a significantly higher moisture content, such as aqueous algae suspensions, for example. Conventional forms of cultivation, for example open or closed cultivation devices with or without artificial lighting, can be used for the cultivation of the biomass provided in method step [A-I]. The separation of a first water fraction according to method step [A-II] can be carried out by means of common separation methods such as by settling or sedimentation, centrifugation, filtering, flotation or by using membrane technology.

After the corresponding drying steps, these can be made available as dried biomass for the subsequent process steps. For example, spray dryers, freeze dryers, belt dryers or drum dryers can be used to carry out the drying task according to process step [A-III].

In a further development of the method variant described, it can be advantageous if, after separating off the first water fraction in processing step [A-II], the aqueous concentrate is digested in a further processing step [A-II.a], with a digested aqueous concentrate having a proportion on broken biomass cells of at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, based on the astaxanthin-containing biomass. The mechanical breaking up and disruption of the biomass cells in such a disruption step [A-II.a] can be carried out in a mill, for example. Biomass agglomerates are advantageously comminuted by the cell disruption and the subsequent drying in drying step [A-III] is thus facilitated.

In a further development of the variant described, it can be advantageous if, after drying the concentrate in processing step [A-III], the dried biomass is comminuted in a further processing step [A-III.a], with a comminuted dried biomass having a particle diameter D100 of 10 mm, preferably with a particle diameter D100 of 5 mm. With regard to the definition of the term "particle diameter", reference is made to the detailed explanations above. A dry mill, for example, can be used to comminute the dried biomass. Depending on the requirements, beater mills, ball mills, cutting mills, impact mills or hammer mills can be used. This further comminution step [A-III.a] may be necessary in particular if larger agglomerates should occur after drying, for example in a drum dryer or belt dryer. In the event that the biomass has been dried beforehand, for example in a spray dryer or fluidized bed dryer, such a comminution step [A-III.a] is usually not necessary.

In a further particularly advantageous variant, at least a partial stream of the paste obtained after step [C] can be recycled in the production process and mixed back into the biomass-oil additive component mixture in process step [C]. A particularly homogeneous paste with a particle size distribution that is as uniform as possible can be obtained by recycling such a partial flow as a recycle flow, which thus runs through the grinding step [C] at least a second time.

• - 1 in einem schematischen Verfahrensfließbild eine erste Variante eines Herstellungsverfahrens für eine erfindungsgemäßen Paste;
• - 2 in einem schematischen Verfahrensfließbild eine zweite Variante eines Herstellungsverfahrens für eine erfindungsgemäße Paste;
• - 3 in Diagrammform anhand des jeweiligen Carotinoid-Gehaltes einen Vergleich von Stabilitätstests von unbehandelter Biomasse gegenüber einer erfindungsgemäßen Paste;
• - 4 in Diagrammform anhand des jeweiligen Carotinoid-Gehaltes einen Vergleich des Alterungsverhaltens nach mehrwöchiger Lagerung von unbehandelter Biomasse gegenüber erfindungsgemäßen Pasten;
• - 5 in Diagrammform eine Partikelgrößenverteilung einer erfindungsgemäßen Paste.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention result from the non-limiting exemplary embodiments described in detail below and from the drawings of the accompanying figure sheets, the drawings showing:

• - 1 in a schematic process flow diagram, a first variant of a production process for a paste according to the invention;
• - 2 in a schematic process flow diagram, a second variant of a production process for a paste according to the invention;
• - 3 in diagram form, based on the respective carotenoid content, a comparison of stability tests of untreated biomass versus a paste according to the invention;
• - 4 in diagram form, based on the respective carotenoid content, a comparison of the aging behavior after several weeks of storage of untreated biomass compared to pastes according to the invention;
• - 5 in diagram form, a particle size distribution of a paste according to the invention.

Examples of manufacturing processes for an astaxanthin-containing paste according to the invention

As has already been noted, correspond to the 1 and 2 Letters or combinations of letters and numbers written in square brackets correspond to the abbreviated designations of the individual procedural steps that are also given in square brackets in the body of the text for better legibility.

1 shows a first variant of a production process for a paste according to the invention in a schematic process flow diagram.

In the first process step [A], dried astaxanthin-containing biomass and an additional oil component are provided. in the in 1 The example shown is algae biomass of the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis. For better understanding, the provision of the astaxanthin-containing biomass is represented by a sub-step [A-BM] (BM = biomass) and the provision of the additional oil component by a sub-step [A-ÖZK] (ÖZK = additional oil component). However, the order of the sub-steps [A-BM] and [A-ÖZK] in method step [A] is irrelevant.

Depending on the application and depending on the nature of the available raw materials, additional upstream process steps may be expedient or necessary for the provision of dried biomass according to process step A/sub-step [A-BM]. These are the optional process step [AI], providing an aqueous algae suspension, the optional process step [A-II], separating off water, and the subsequent optional process step [A-III], drying aqueous algae concentrate. For the sake of clarity, these optional, upstream process steps [AI], [A-II] and [A-III] are drawn within the dot-dash frame [A]. This becomes figuratively in 1 shown that in the simplest case already dried biomass 12 is provided with suitable specification in method step [A]/sub-step [A-BM]. The dried biomass 12 is provided with a residual moisture content of at most 10% by weight, preferably at most 7% by weight, particularly preferably at most 5% by weight. Dried biomass 12, which here has, for example, 7% by weight of residual moisture, can be further processed according to the method.

Alternatively, if instead of already dried biomass 12 an aqueous algae suspension 10 with a comparatively high water content is available as the starting material, the optional method steps [A-I], [A-II] and [A-III] may be required.

In such a case, an aqueous algae suspension 10 containing, for example, 0.1 g/L to 10 g/L (grams per liter) of biomass can alternatively be used as the starting material according to method step [A-I]. A proportion of biomass of 1 g/L to 5 g/L is usually usual for algae suspensions from cultivation.

After separating a first water fraction 30 from the aqueous algae suspension 10 in method step [A-II], an aqueous algae concentrate 11 is obtained which, for example, has a biomass content of 1 to 35% by weight of dry matter, usually 10 to 20% by weight of dry matter , may have. A first water fraction 30 can expediently be separated off in method step [A-II], for example by centrifuging in a suitable centrifuge.

It can then be advantageous if the aqueous algae concentrate 11 is dried in a further process step [A-III], with a second water fraction 31 being separated off in order to obtain a dried biomass 12 with a maximum residual moisture content of 10% by weight. For example, a belt dryer can be used for drying in process step [A-III].

Furthermore, as mentioned, the oil additive component 22 is provided in method step [A]/substep [A-ÖKZ]. Such an oil additive component 22 contains, for example, an oil 20 and/or oil mixture 21. The oil 20 and/or oil mixture 21 can be of vegetable, animal and/or microbiological origin. The mixture used here, for example, of a pure vegetable oil 20 and an oil mixture 21 also of vegetable origin is additionally mixed with an additive 200, which additive 200 can be, for example, a preservative, colorant, antioxidant and/or valuable material.

Subsequent process step [B] relates to mixing dried biomass 12 with the oil additive component provided in step [A]. The mixing of the dried biomass 12 with the oil additive component 22 takes place in such a way that a mixing ratio of 10% by weight to 80% by weight, based on the biomass 12, is selected. Here, for example, a mixing ratio of 40% by weight of oil additive component 22, based on the biomass 12, is set. A continuously operating cutter or comminution mixer, for example, is used here as the mixing element. The dried biomass 12 provided here has, for example, a residual moisture content of around 7% by weight. The oil additive component 22 is mixed in as dry or water-free as possible. After the mixing step [B], a biomass-oil additive component mixture 13 is obtained, which can contain a total moisture content of, for example, about 4% by weight and particles with particle sizes well above 10 μm. For example, particles with particle sizes of 200 μm to 350 μm can be present in the biomass-oil additive component mixture.

The subsequent process step [C] relates to the grinding of the biomass/oil additive component mixture 13 previously obtained in the mixing step [B]. After the grinding step [C], a paste 14 according to the invention is obtained which, for example, has a total moisture content of less than 4% by weight and therefore has a high storage stability or shelf life. Another advantage is that the paste 14 obtained can be pumped with a viscosity (measured at 25° C.) of, for example, around 40 Pas (Pascal seconds).

Depending on the application, a partial flow 15 of the ground paste 14 can optionally be recirculated and mixed back into the mixture 13 of the biomass and oil additives in process step [C]. Partial flow 15 is in 1 shown as a dashed arrow. A particularly homogeneous paste 14 with a very uniform particle size distribution can be obtained by recycling such a partial flow 15 as a recycle flow, which thus runs through the grinding step [C] at least a second time.

Now to a second variant of a production method for a paste according to the invention, this variant in 2 is shown schematically. The same reference numbers in the 1 and 2 affect in each case the same process steps or process streams, which is why the previous description of the figures 1 likewise the corresponding identically designated steps or streams in 2 regards.

In contrast to the process flow diagram according to 1 are in here 2 in connection with the provision of the astaxanthin-containing paste, further optional process steps [A-II.a] and [A-III.a] are drawn in in the dashed-dotted frame denoted by the letters [A-BM], individually or jointly may be necessary if an aqueous algae suspension 10 is assumed as the starting raw material and this must first be processed into a correspondingly dried biomass.

Again, those optional process steps are outlined within the dash-dotted frame labeled [A-BM] that may be required as upstream steps for providing dried astaxanthin-containing biomass from algae (microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis). These are the process steps [AI], the provision of an aqueous algae suspension, and the process step [A-II], the separation of water. Before the subsequent drying step [A-III], according to here 2 optionally an additional disruption step [A-II.a] serve to mechanically disrupt the aqueous algae concentrate 11 and thereby obtain an increased proportion of broken biomass cells of at least 80%, based on the biomass. This additional digestion step [A-II.a] is advantageously carried out in a mill. In the case of a broken down aqueous algae concentrate 110 obtained in this way, biomass agglomerates are broken up by the cell breakdown, the availability of ingredients of the biomass is increased and the subsequent drying is thus facilitated.

It can be particularly useful if, in the method described, after drying the algae concentrate in method step [A-III], a dried, broken down biomass 120 is comminuted in a further method step [A-III.a], with a comminuted, dried biomass 121 having a particle diameter D100 of 10 mm, here with a particle diameter D100 of 5 mm, for example, is obtained. A dry mill, for example, can be used to comminute the dried biomass 120 .

Comparable to the description of 1 will according to 2 dried biomass 121, again comminuted in method step [A], which here has, for example, 6% by weight of residual moisture, is provided for further processing. Also, as above 1 described in detail, provided the oil additive component.

Process step [B] relates to the mixing of the provided comminuted, dried biomass 121 with the provided oil additive component 22. The mixing of the dried biomass 121 with the oil additive component 22 takes place in such a way that a mixing ratio of 10% by weight to 80% by weight, based to the biomass 121, is selected. Here, for example, a mixing ratio of 60% by weight of oil additive component 22, based on the comminuted, dried biomass 121, is set.

In the event that the additional comminution step [A-III.a] is not required, the mixing ratio is based on the broken down dried biomass 120 accordingly.

A continuously operating cutter or comminution mixer, for example, is used here as the mixing element. The dried biomass 120 or 121 provided here has, for example, a residual moisture content of around 6% by weight. The oil additive component 22 is mixed in as dry or water-free as possible. After the mixing step [B], a biomass-oil additive component mixture 130 is obtained, which, for example, has a total moisture content of about 3% by weight and can still contain particles well over 10 μm in particle size.

Process step [C] relates to the grinding of the biomass-oil additive component mixture 130 previously obtained in mixing step [B]. has a particularly high storage stability or shelf life. Another advantage is that the paste 140 obtained can be pumped with a viscosity at 25° C., for example, of around 20 Pas (Pascal seconds).

Depending on the application, a partial flow 150 of the ground paste 140 can be recycled and mixed back into the biomass-oil additive component mixture 130 in method step [C]. By returning such a partial flow 150 as a recycle flow, which thus at least a second time the Mah processing step [C], a particularly homogeneous astaxanthin-containing algae paste 140 with a very uniform particle size distribution is obtained. The optional partial flow 150 is shown as a dashed arrow.

Appropriately, in the two process variants according to the 1 and 2 a sequence of at least process steps [A], [B] and [C] in a continuous mode of operation. Thus, the paste 14 or 140 according to the invention can also be produced continuously and optionally also processed further and/or packaged continuously.

Examples and comparative tests

Comparative sample "Reference 2"

Aqueous algae suspension with biomass from the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis was cultivated in an indoor facility (according to process step [AI] described above) and then concentrated by means of separation (according to process step [A-II] described above; to around 15% by weight of dry matter of the concentrated algae suspension). The aqueous algae concentrate was then broken down in a wet mill (according to process step [A-II.a] described above) and then dried using a belt dryer to a residual moisture content or water content of around 4.9% by weight (according to process step [A-III] described above). . The particles of the product manufactured in this way are dried biomass flakes in the size range from 5 mm to 15 mm in diameter and a few 1/10 mm layer thickness, a lipid content of around 35% by weight (based on the dry substance TS of the biomass used) and a carotenoid content of 5.2% by weight. This carotenoid content corresponds to an astaxanthin content of about 4.7% by weight.

Comparative sample "Reference 2"

The biomass produced according to the above “Reference 1” recipe was extracted with supercritical CO ₂ (carbon dioxide) and the oleoresin extract thus obtained was then adjusted to a carotenoid content of 5.5% by weight by adding vegetable oil. This carotenoid content corresponds to an astaxanthin content of around 5% by weight. The product “Reference 2” produced in this way has a viscosity of 0.547 Pas and a total moisture content or water content of 0.48% by weight.

Test sample according to the invention "Example 1"

4000 g of biomass from "Reference 1" were mixed with 1200 g of sunflower oil in a cutter and pre-comminuted to form a mushy mixture. The particle size of the biomass was reduced from an average particle diameter of a few millimeters to a particle diameter of around 200 to 350 µm. The biomass-sunflower oil mixture obtained in this way was fed to a corundum disk mill with an adjustable gap via a forced-conveying pump and ground there. The paste obtained was collected and fed back into the pump or corundum disk mill as a recycle stream for a further run. In the course of several such passes and repetitions, the gap size of the corundum disk mill was minimized. The paste produced in this way, which has been ground several times, has a particle size distribution with a particle diameter D90 significantly smaller than 10 µm and a pasty, stable consistency with a viscosity of 43.408 Pas, which, however, was exceptionally determined here at a temperature of 40°C. This paste of sample "Example 1" has a carotenoid content of about 4.8% by weight, a residual moisture content or water content of 4.08% by weight and a lipid content of 50% by weight, based on the dry substance of the biomass used . This carotenoid content corresponds to an astaxanthin content of around 4.4% by weight.

The sample obtained in this way was subjected to a microbiological examination. While the aerobic germ count of the outgoing biomass is in the range of 10^3 to 10^4 CFU/g, a significant reduction to 140 KFU/g was achieved through the described production and processing. The germ count values measured for the paste according to the invention according to "Example 1" are listed in Table 1 below: Table 1: Result of determining the germ count of the test sample "Example 1" designation value unit default Aerobic bacterial count 140 CFU/g ÖNORM EN ISO 4833-1; colony counting method; VE00001310 coliforms at 37°C <10 CFU/g ISO4832; colony counting method; VE00001311 Escherichia coli NN G ISO16649-2; colony counting method; VE00006588 yeasts <10 CFU/g ISO 21527; colony counting method; VE00006276 molds <10 CFU/g ISO 21527; colony counting method; VE00006273

Inventive test sample "Example 2"

About 250 g of the mixture from the above-mentioned formulation of “Example 1” were then mixed with a further 25 g of sunflower oil using a hand mixer and homogenized on a laboratory scale. The paste produced in this way has a pasty, soft consistency with a viscosity of 35.89 Pas (at 25° C.), a carotenoid content of around 4.0% by weight, a residual moisture content or water content of 3.71% by weight. and a lipid content of 51% by weight, based on the dry substance of the biomass used. This carotenoid content corresponds to an astaxanthin content of around 3.6% by weight.

Inventive test sample "Example 3"

About 250 g of the mixture from the aforementioned recipe from "Example 1" were again mixed with a hand mixer with a further 70 g of sunflower oil and homogenized. The paste produced in this way has a viscous consistency with a viscosity of 14.201 Pas (at 25° C.), a carotenoid content of about 3.4% by weight, a residual moisture content or water content of 3.19% by weight and a lipid content of 58% by weight, based on the dry substance (TS) of the biomass used. This carotenoid content corresponds to an astaxanthin content of around 3.1% by weight.

Table 2 below lists some analytical values for the reference and test samples described below, which were produced on a pilot plant scale. Table 2: Analysis values of the reference and comparison samples according to the invention sample abbreviation Carotenoid content (wt%) Viscosity (Pas), at 25°C Total moisture / water content (weight %) Lipid content (wt. % TS) "Reference 1" 5.2% - 4.9% 35% "Reference 2" 5.5% 0.547 0.48% 100% "Example 1" 4.8% 43.408 (at 40°C) 4.08% 50% "Example 2" 4.0% 35.89 3.71% 51% "Example 3" 3.4% 14.201 3.19% 58%

In the course of these exemplary embodiments, in particular on the basis of the test samples "Example 1", "Example 2" and "Example 3", it was shown that by adding a suitable amount of oil additive component to the dried biomass and by subsequent grinding, pastes containing astaxanthin can be produced which have a soft , have a pasty consistency and a very homogeneous composition with finely ground biomass particles with a particle diameter D90 of less than 10 µm.

Further details on the reference and test samples described above are given in the 3 - 5 and the following description of the figures.

3 shows a diagram of a comparison of stability tests of untreated astaxanthin-containing algae biomass (“Reference 1”; details see above) compared to an astaxanthin-containing algae paste according to the invention (“Example 1”; details see above). A carotenoid content normalized to 100% in the two comparison samples, which is plotted on the ordinate axis, is assumed as the starting values. The diagram shows the course of the carotenoid content over time in the course of stability tests in air at a temperature of 75°C. The duration of the test in hours (h) is plotted on the abscissa axis.

While in the case of untreated biomass (“Reference 1”) according to the dashed graph, only about 80% of the initial concentration of carotenoid can be detected after a test period of 48 hours As shown in the solid graphs, after 48 hours 93% of the starting concentration of carotenoid is still available. This impressively demonstrates that the production and formulation of a paste according to the invention according to "Example 1" significantly increases the storage stability, as can be illustrated by the carotenoid content. The inclusion in a lipid matrix in the paste according to the invention significantly improves the shelf life of valuable ingredients such as lipids, pigments and antioxidants compared to the reference sample, ie the untreated biomass. The carotenoid breakdown could be reduced by more than 50% within 48 h in an algae paste from Haematococcus pluvialis compared to the untreated biomass: the carotenoid loss in the paste according to the invention ("Example 1") is about 7% after 48 h - compared to the untreated biomass (“Reference 1”) with around 13% loss after a test period of 48 hours.

4 also shows in diagram form, based on the respective astaxanthin content, a comparison of the aging behavior after several weeks of storage of untreated astaxanthin-containing biomass ("Reference 1"; details see above) compared to pastes according to the invention ("Example 1", "Example 2", "Example 3"; details see above). The carotenoid contents in % by weight for these samples, which are plotted on the ordinate axis, are compared in a bar graph. The light bars each show the carotenoid contents (in % by weight) at the starting point of a storage period of 15 weeks in each case. The dark or patterned bars show the carotenoid content of the same samples after 15 weeks, after 28 weeks or after 49 weeks of storage, during which the samples were stored in closed containers at a storage temperature of 4 to 8°C. While untreated biomass (“Reference 1”) loses about 15% of its initial carotenoid content, the carotenoid content in the pastes according to the invention (“Example 1”, “Example 2”, “Example 3”) remains practically unchanged over the storage period of several weeks.

5 Figure 12 shows, in diagram form, a particle size distribution of a paste according to the invention. The course of the particle size is shown here after grinding according to process step [C] as described in “Example 1” above as a cumulative distribution Q3 (in %), as plotted on the ordinate axis. The particle size in μm (microns) is plotted on the abscissa axis. 90% of the particles are therefore smaller than about 4 µm. Or to put it another way, the particle size distribution shown here has a particle diameter D90 of less than 4 μm. This result of the particle size distribution of the paste according to the invention according to "Example 1" confirms the very good comminution of the starting particles by the production process described here to particle sizes that are smaller than the original cell sizes of the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis used here as starting material. The cell sizes of these microalgae as the starting product are usually around 30 to 60 µm. The particle sizes of the biomass used here after drying are in the size range of 1 to 10 mm (flakes) and the particles of the finished paste here have a particle diameter D100 smaller than 10 µm and a particle diameter D90 smaller than 4 µm.

Application examples

Use of the paste according to the invention in capsules for dietary supplements

The production of liquid-filled hard capsules is described below as an example of the use of astaxanthin-containing paste in dietary supplements. Two capsules daily provide the recommended daily allowance of 8 mg of astaxanthin for an adult. For this purpose, 1000 g of the paste from “Example 1” described above are mixed with 3500 g of virgin olive oil while stirring until smooth. For additional protection against oxidation, 45 g of D-alpha tocopherol are added and the mixture is filled into around 10,100 liquid-fillable HPMC hard-on capsules.

Use of the paste according to the invention as a pasty food additive:

As an example of the use of astaxanthin-containing paste as a food additive, the paste according to the invention from “Example 3” described above is combined with potatoes as a starch carrier and supplemented with linseed oil as a carrier of valuable unsaturated fatty acids. To do this, floury potatoes are boiled and mashed, the paste from "Example 3" is added, mixed and the linseed oil is stirred in with a dough hook until a smooth, homogeneous mass is obtained; the formulation is set out in Table 3. This is filled into tubes and pasteurized closed. Just one gram of this product covers the daily The recommended amount of astaxanthin is 8 mg. The paste can be added directly to cold-prepared dishes. Table 3: Formulation for a composition as a food additive containing a paste according to the invention ingredient weight % Paste example 3 27% potatoes 54% linseed oil 19%

Use of the paste according to the invention in animal nutrition:

The production of dog biscuits ("treats") as a dietary supplement for dogs is described here as an example of the use of astaxanthin-containing paste in animal nutrition. For this purpose, according to the recipe listed in Table 4, first 2% psyllium husk powder is dispersed with 98% lukewarm water and 15% gelled. The resulting gel is mixed with boiled, mashed sweet potatoes and then the paste and glycerin are added while stirring. Knead with the dough hook to a homogeneous dough and towards the end add about 1% potato starch to adjust the desired viscosity. Extrude the dough into the desired shape and dry to a residual moisture content of less than 10%. The treats produced in this way serve as a vegan dietary supplement for dogs. Already 2-3 pieces cover the daily requirement of astaxanthin for an average dog. Table 4: Recipe for a composition for dog biscuits (“treats”) containing a paste according to the invention ingredient weight % Paste example 1 5% sweet potato 60% Psyllium Husk Gel 22% Vegetable glycerin 12% potato starch 1 %

Use of the paste according to the invention in a body cream (body lotion):

A body cream (body lotion) with 0.1% by weight paste from “Example 3” mentioned above is described here as an example of the use of astaxanthin-containing paste in cosmetics. The body cream has a soft pink color and is characterized by the content of astaxanthin as a protection against skin aging, oxidative stress and UV damage. The formulation of the body cream is given in Table 5 below, with the ingredients listed according to the International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) designation. For the preparation, the components of phase A are dissolved one after the other with stirring at approx. 70-75°C to give a clear solution. The components of phase B are heated to 70° C. and dissolved to give a clear solution. The paste is dispersed in phase B before emulsification. Then phase B is added to phase A with stirring and homogenized smoothly to form an emulsion. The emulsion obtained is cooled and only below 40° C. are the components of phase C added and stirred in smoothly. Table 5: Recipe for a body cream containing a paste according to the invention phase INCI (EU) - designation wt% A Aqua 69.85 Xanthan Gum 0.25 Pentylene Glycol 5.00 Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate 0.20 B Glyceryl Stearate Citrate 3.00 cetyl alcohol 2.00 octyldodecanol 6.00 triheptanoin 6.00 Olus Oil 5.00 B1 Paste from example 3. 0.10 C Alcohol Denat. 2.00 Perfume 0.60

Advantages of the Invention

• • Das hierin beschriebene Herstellungsverfahren bietet eine kostengünstige Weiterverarbeitung von trockener Astaxanthin-haltiger Biomasse zu einer erfindungsgemäßen Astaxanthin-reichen Paste mit einer fließfähigen Formulierung.
• • In der Herstellung der erfindungsgemäßen Paste ist kein aufwändiger Extraktionsschritt notwendig.
• • Die Paste zeigt eine deutlich verbesserte Lagerfähigkeit im Vergleich zu getrockneter Biomasse.
• • Die Paste ist sehr homogen mit sehr kleinen Partikelgrößen unter 10 µm.
• • In der Paste bleiben die gesamten Inhaltsstoffe der Mikroalge d.h. auch Lipide, Kohlenhydrate, Proteine, Spurenelemente und Ballaststoffe, vor Oxidation geschützt erhalten.
• • Bei der Zugabe der Ölzusatzkomponente steht eine breite Auswahl an Lipiden zur Verfügung.
• • Bei der Zugabe der Ölzusatzkomponente ist eine Additivierung und/oder ein Zusatz von Wertstoffen möglich.
• • Die Paste ist komplett mischbar mit Ol(en) und begrenzt mischbar mit Wasser.
• • Die Paste gewährleistet eine hohe Bio-Verfügbarkeit der Inhaltsstoffe.
• • Die Paste ist pumpbar, pasteurisierbar, sowie maschinell abfüllbar.
• • Die Paste kann beispielsweise verlustfrei in Tuben oder Quetschbeutel abgefüllt werden.
• • Die Abfüllung der Paste kann sauber, hygienisch und staubfrei erfolgen.
• • Geringe Keimzahl und dadurch verbesserte Haltbarkeit und höhere Lebensmittelsicherheit.
• • Geringer Wassergehalt bzw. geringe Wasseraktivität und dadurch bessere mikrobiologische Stabilität und Haltbarkeit.
• • Zur Einstellung der Viskosität ist kein Zusatz von Wasser oder Verdickungsmittel notwendig und die Paste stellt ein pures, natürliches Produkt dar.

The advantages of the astaxanthin-containing paste according to the invention are summarized again below:

• • The manufacturing process described herein offers a cost-effective further processing of dry astaxanthin-containing biomass to an astaxanthin-rich paste according to the invention with a flowable formulation.
• • No complex extraction step is necessary in the production of the paste according to the invention.
• • The paste shows a significantly improved shelf life compared to dried biomass.
• • The paste is very homogeneous with very small particle sizes below 10 µm.
• • In the paste, all the ingredients of the microalgae, ie lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, trace elements and roughage, remain protected from oxidation.
• • A wide range of lipids are available when adding the oil additive component.
• • When adding the oil additive component, additives and/or valuable materials can be added.
• • The paste is completely miscible with oil(s) and has limited miscibility with water.
• • The paste ensures high bio-availability of the ingredients.
• • The paste can be pumped, pasteurized and filled by machine.
• • The paste can, for example, be filled into tubes or squeeze bags without loss.
• • The paste can be filled cleanly, hygienically and dust-free.
• • Low germ count and thus improved shelf life and higher food safety.
• • Low water content or low water activity and therefore better microbiological stability and shelf life.
• • No addition of water or thickening agent is necessary to adjust the viscosity and the paste is a pure, natural product.

Claims (20)

Astaxanthin-containing paste, characterized in that it contains the following components processed into a pasty mass: • 20-90% by weight of dried astaxanthin-containing biomass which has a residual moisture content of at most 10% by weight based on the total weight of the dried has astaxanthin-containing biomass; and • 10-80% by weight of an oil additive component comprising at least one oil and/or oil mixture; wherein the astaxanthin-containing biomass and the oil additive component together make 100% by weight based on the astaxanthin-containing paste, wherein the astaxanthin-containing paste has a total moisture content of at most 7% by weight based on the total weight of the paste and an astaxanthin Content of 2 to 10% by weight with respect to the total weight of the paste. Paste containing astaxanthin claim 1 , characterized in that it contains 40-85% by weight of the dried astaxanthin-containing biomass and 15-60% by weight of the oil additive component. Paste containing astaxanthin claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the dried astaxanthin-containing biomass comes from algae, preferably from the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis, and/or from microorganisms, preferably yeasts (Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous/Phaffia rhodozyma) or bacteria. Astaxanthin-containing paste according to any of Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the dried astaxanthin-containing biomass comprises or consists of dried Haematococcus pluvialis algae. Astaxanthin-containing paste according to any of Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the dried astaxanthin-containing biomass has a residual moisture content of at most 7% by weight, preferably at most 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the dried astaxanthin-containing biomass. Astaxanthin-containing paste according to any of Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the astaxanthin-containing paste has a total moisture content of at most 6% by weight, more preferably at most 5% by weight, even more preferably at most 4% by weight, most preferably at most 3% by weight. %, based on the total weight of the paste. Astaxanthin-containing paste according to any of Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that the astaxanthin-containing paste has an astaxanthin content of 3 to 8% by weight in relation to the total weight of the paste. Astaxanthin-containing paste according to any of Claims 1 until 7 , characterized in that the astaxanthin-containing paste has a viscosity at 25°C of 10 to 100 Pas (Pascal seconds), preferably 15 to 50 Pas, particularly preferably 20 to 40 Pas. Astaxanthin-containing paste according to any of Claims 1 until 8th , characterized in that the particle size distribution in the paste has a particle diameter D90 smaller than 10 µm, preferably a particle diameter D90 smaller than 5 µm, and/or a particle diameter D50 smaller than 5 µm, preferably a particle diameter D50 smaller than 3 µm. Astaxanthin-containing paste according to any of Claims 1 until 9 , characterized in that the lipid content in the paste is 45 to 75% by weight, preferably 48 to 70% by weight, particularly preferably 50 to 65% by weight, based on the total weight of the paste. Astaxanthin-containing paste according to any of Claims 1 until 10 , characterized in that at least one ingredient of the oil additive component is selected from the group consisting of: vegetable oil, animal oil, microbiological oil; Blend of oils of vegetable origin, Blend of oils of animal origin, Blend of oils of microbiological origin. Astaxanthin-containing paste according to any of Claims 1 until 11 , characterized in that the oil additive component further comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of preservatives, colorants, antioxidants and/or recyclables. Astaxanthin-containing paste according to any of Claims 1 until 12 , characterized in that the oil additive component has a moisture content (water content) of at most 0.5% by weight based on the oil additive component and is preferably free of water. Edible preparation comprising an astaxanthin-containing paste according to any one of Claims 1 until 13 . Edible preparation after Claim 14 , characterized in that the edible preparation is a dietary supplement composition, a food or a feed. Edible preparation after Claim 14 or 15 characterized in that the edible preparation is a dietary supplement composition formulated in a unit dose presentation form, preferably in the form of a soft or hard capsule preparation or a tablet. Edible preparation after Claim 14 or 15 , in the form of a pelleted feed. A cosmetic product comprising an astaxanthin-containing paste according to any one of Claims 1 until 13 . Cosmetic product after Claim 18 , in a form suitable for external application to the skin. Cosmetic product after Claim 18 or 19 which is a cream, ointment, emulsion, lotion, paste cosmetic product, face mask, or solid.

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