| Title of Process/ Know-how/ Product/Design/Equipment

An integrated downstream process for β-carotene and lutein– enriched products from Dunaliella biomass

IPR Status & Details:

IN202511028885

Application/Uses/Problem being addressed

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 including Competing Features/ Impact

  • 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 Level & Scale of Development:- TRL 4 TRL Reference

    • 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 (in terms of scale, cost, market etc.)

    • 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.

    Environmental Considerations

    This process does not generate any harmful effluent

    Status of Licensing:

    Not yet licensed

    Status of Commercialization:

    Not yet commercialized

    Major Raw Materials Needed

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

    Major Plant Equipment and Machinery Required

    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.

    • | Technology Photographs

    An integrated downstream process