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Bio-based Fuels & Chemicals (other than seaweeds)
Application Uses

Applications/ Uses:

  • Nutraceutical formulations
  • Eye & skin health
  • Immune support
  • Food colorants
  • Cosmetic formulations involving natural color & antioxidants

Problem being addressed:

This technology primarily addressed the complexity of β-carotene extraction by replacing conventional multi-step operations–such as cell disruption, extraction, and formulation–with an innovative, simplified, and green downstream process.

Salient Technical Features
  • Developed a process intensification approach employing a biocompatible extractant for achieving concurrent cell disruption, extraction and in situ formulation of β-carotene and lutein products from Dunaliella biomass.
  • This innovative downstream approach executes all three essential unit operations–cell disruption, extraction and formulation concomitantly in a single reaction vessel.
  • The entire extraction can be carried out at room temperature conditions with less time (50–60 minutes).

Purity of β-carotene and lutein products was found to be 70–72% and 67-68%, respectively.

TRL
TRL 4
Scale of Development:

  • Process validated at 100 g wet biomass: TRL 4.

  • Filed patent (IN202511028885; March 26, 2025)

  • Ready for Process Demonstration and Technology Transfer.

Business scope & opportunity
  • The global β–carotene market size was worth USD 575 million in 2022, rising at CAGR of 5% between 2023 and 2032. 
  • The Indian market size for carotenoids is estimated to reach 237 million USD by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 4.8% from 2023 to 2032. Market share of β-carotene is 40% of Indian carotenoid market.
Environment Considerations

This process does not generate any harmful effluent

Status of Licensing
Not yet licensed
Status Commercialization
Not yet commercialized
Major Raw Materials Needed

Dunaliella biomass (enriched with β-carotene), Biocompatible extractant.

Major Plant Equipment

Stirred jacketed vessel, Centrifuge (for solid-liquid separation), Spray dryer (optional, in case of powdered form of the product is required).

Techno-Economics

Preliminary economic analysis indicates that processing 1 kg of biomass using this downstream technology is four times more cost-effective than the existing solvent extraction approach.

Technology Package
  • Demonstration of the integrated downstream process for the extraction and formulation of β-carotene and lutein products at 100 g (wet) biomass scale. 
  • License fee and other financial details would be provided on request.
Photograph
An integrated downstream process
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