Process for the manufacture of a pulverous preparation

The invention concerns: A. a process for the manufacture a pulverous active substance selected from carotenoids, especially beta -carotene characterized by a.1) dissolving the active substance in dimethyl ether under elevated pressure and temperature conditions, a-2) flash-decompressing the thus-formed solution in an expansion apparatus, and a-3) separating the pulverous solid particles formed in the expansion from the dimethyl ether liberated; and B. A process for the manufacture of a pulverous preparation which contains an active substance selected from carotenoids, especially beta -carotene finally distributed in a matrix component consisting of at least one adjuvant, characterized by a) dissolving the active substance under elevated temperature and pressure conditions in a compressed gas in the subcritical or supercritical state, b) dispersing the solution obtained from a) in at least one adjuvant, c) removing the compressed gas from the dispersion obtained from b), d) converting the adjuvant then containing the active substance into a pulverous preparation in a process step known per se.