Improved separation method for highly purified lutein from Chlorella powder using jet mill and flash column chromatography on silica gel.

We investigated an improved method for the separation of high-purified lutein from a commercially available spray-dried Chlorella powder (CP) using fine grinding by jet mill and flash column chromatography on a silica gel. Saponification and extraction of lutein were enhanced 2.3-2.9-fold in jet mill-treated CP (mean particle size, 20 microm) as compared to untreated CP (mean particle size, 67 microm). The carotenoid extract was dissolved in ether-hexane (1:1 v/v) and subjected to flash column chromatography on silica gel. A mixture of alpha- and beta-carotene was eluted with hexane, followed by elution with hexane-acetone-chloroform (7:2:1 v/v). Lutein (dark-orange band) was collected after the elution of an unknown colorless compound (detected based on UV absorbance). The purity of lutein in this fraction was over 99%, and the yield was 60%. The present study provides key information for obtaining highly purified lutein using flash column chromatography on a silica gel.