"i he present invention relates to water dispersible carotenoid formulations and process for preparation thereof
It is an object of the present invention to provide a protective colloid, imparts all the required properties to the carotene formulation. PRIOR ART:
The colors of a large number of plants and animals are determined by substances belonging to the carotenoid group. These are compounds which have intense yellow to red colors The most important members of the two classes are Beta-carotene, canthaxanthin, citranaxanthin, Beta.-apo-8*-carotenal and esters of Beta.-apo-8'-carotenic acid. These carotenoids are not harmful to health and in some cases even have a health-promoting provitamin A action, these compounds are increasingly being used as colorants or additives for food, drugs, cosmetics and animal feeds.
While oily or fatty systems can be fairly readily colored with the pure crystalline substances, aqueous systems are virtually impossible to color with the substances. Furthermore, pure carotenoids mixed with food or animal feed are poorly utilized by the human or animal organism. The reason for this is the complete insolubility of most carotenoids in water. The carotenoids have only very limited solubility even in organic solvents such as alcohols and alkanes.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,861,891 describes a process for the preparation of water-dispersible carotene formulations. In this process the carotenoid, eg. Beta-carotene as one of the most important members of this group, is dissolved in a vegetable oil at elevated temperatures, this oil solution is emulsified in an aqueous protective

colloid system and the resulting emulsion is converted to a dry powder by removal of water.
References Cited: U.S. Patent Documents:
2861891 Nov., 1958 Bauemfeind et al. 426/540.
3110598 . Nov., 1963 Muller et al. 426/540.
3125451 Mar., 1964 Wingerdetal. 426/540.
3206316 Sep., 1965 Klaui 426/540.
3316101 Apr., 1967 Borenstein et al. 426/540..
3655406 Apr., 1972 Klaui 426/540.
3998753 Dec, 1976 Antoshkiw et al. 426/540.
4522743 Jun., 1985 Horn et al. 426/540.
Foreign Patent Documents:
50-75215 Jun., 1975 JP 426/540.
Other References: H. Klaui, Wiss. Veroffentl. Deutsch. Ges. f. Emahrung 9, (1963), p. 396.
If the dry powder is redispersed in warm water, a cloudy, orange yellow emulsion is formed again. This can be used, for example, for coloring foods. Important performance characteristics of these coloring formulations are solubility, hue, color strength, turbidity and stability in the medium used. Good solubility in cold water, an intense yellow hue, a low level of turbidity and high stability even in acidic solution (210 .mu.m. This ensures uniform solution kinetics.
The minimum drop size obtainable by these measures is dependent on the type of emulsifying apparatus, the formulation and the duration of emulsification. If a dispersing apparatus functioning on the principle of the rotor-stator is used and

the preferred ratio of starting materials is chosen, a mean particle size of 0.3 .mu.m .+-.50% is obtained. This is unusually low for an OAV emulsion and is very advantageous with regard to the end product since both color strength and hue and turbidity are shijfted in the stated advantageous direction as the droplets become smaller. The particle size is measured by photon correlation spectroscopy, as for the choice of the dextrins.
The resulting emulsion has a long shelf life and can either be used directly for coloring foods, if necessary with the addition of preservatives, or be subjected to a known process for removing water under mild conditions, for example by spray drying, and then converted to a dry powder which has the special properties stated at the outset. EXAMPLE 1:
700 g of dextrin with an initial moisture content of 5-7%, lOg of ascorbic acid, 265g of mixed carotenoid crystals containing not less than 20% Betacarotene as final concentration is dry blended initially and dispersed uniformly using a multiple rollermill. The product thus obtained is then mixed with 25riil of edible oil and finally milled and mixed using a muller mixer. The Betacarotene used for the formulation has a micron size of 3 microns and below. The resultant formulation is a relatively dry blend which evenly disperses in water and has coloring properties with a less cloud. The oil coating on the colloid gives it long shelf life. The product thus formulated does not contain water, lecithin or gum Arabic thereby is very safe fi'om degradation. The product is suitable for direct filling to hard gelatin capsules

or can be granulated successfully. Since the product is devoid of sugar the product is safe for use for patients suffering from diabetics.
All the processes are performed under room temperature conditions and under ultrapure nitrogen giving a fomiulation of high stability.

We claim,
1. The process for preparation of water dispersible carotenoid formulation
comprising;
(a) dispersing carotenoid in dextrin and finely milling using multiple roUermiller;
(b) stabilizing it using an anti oxidant suitably ascorbic acid;
(c) coating with the protective layer consisting of edible oil containing a fatty acid of 18 carbon atoms and a cold water soluble starch product in the weight ratio of 1 : 50 to 1:30.

2. A process for preparation of water dispersible carotenoid formulation as claimed in claim 1 wherein edible oil added is sunflower oil.
3. A process for preparation of water dispersible carotenoid formulation as claimed in claim 1 wherein dextrin or chemically modified starch is the cold water soluble starch product.
4. A process for preparation of water dispersible carotenoid formulation as claimed in claim 1 wherein the starch product is dextrin.
5. A process for preparation of water dispersible carotenoid formulation as claimed in claim 1 wherein the carotenoid is Beta-carotene and the starch product is dextrin.
6. A process for preparation of water dispersible carotenoid formulation as claimed in claim 1 wherein the blending equipment used for the purpose is a muller mixer.
7. A process for preparation of water dispersible carotenoid formulation as claimed in claim 1 wherein the carotenoid crystal size is predominantly 3 microns.

8. A process for preparation of water dispersible carotenoid formulation as
claimed in claim 1 wherein the formulation is prepared in absence of water.
9. A process for preparation of water dispersible carotenoid formulation as
claimed in claim 1 wherein formulation is sugar free.
10.A process for preparation of water dispersible carotenoid formulation as claimed in claim 1 wherein lecithin or gum Arabic are excluded in the formulation.
11. A process for preparation thereof as claimed in claim 1 to 10 as substantially herein described with foregoing description and examples.