Verfahren zur Gewinnung von Carotinoiden aus Algen

Procedure for obtaining valuable materials, especially carotinoids, from seaweed, and installations suitable for this purpose. The obtaining of valuable materials, especially carotinoids, from seaweed, especially Dunaliella, is achieved by extraction of the valuable material from the brine culture without previous enrichment of the biomass, with release of the valuable material from the seaweed being achieved, before the extraction, or during it, by application of adequate shearing forces. In particular, [beta]-carotene can be extracted from brine cultures of Dunaliella with an oil permitted for use in the food sector, in an amount of preferably between 1 and 10%, relative to the brine culture. Brine cultures are preferably prepared with a salt concentration of 18 to 30% by weight, especially 22 to 28% by weight of salt. Conveniently, the oil dispersed with a colloid mill with a high number of revolutions is recirculated to the extraction with simultaneous application of adequate shearing forces to recover the cellular material (after phase separation has been carried out) with iterative enrichment of the valuable material within the solution.