A process for the preparation of carotenoid rich spirulina

A process for the preparation of carotenoid rich Spirulina The present invention relates to a process for preparation of carotenoid rich Spirulina. The colour reduced, carotenoid rich Spirulina finds application in food products as a nutritional supplement at higher proportions. The novelty of the invention is that treatment of Spirulina biomass with mix of miscible solvent and water facilitated the extraction of blue colour phycobiliproteins and green colour mainly chlorophyll and the resulting Spirulina powder enriched with 0-carotene. The blue colour obtained from Spirulina biomass without homogenization of cells can be concentrated and the process can be scaled up easily by known methods. The green colour (mostly chlorophyll a ) obtained also with out homogenization can be concentrated and stabilized by known methods. The Spirulina biomass after pigments extraction obtained as byproduct with enriched p-carotene (3-4 times) and also rich in protein (42-45%) can be incorporated in food products at higher levels (2-5 times) than that of using the original (untreated) Spirulina powder.