Unique capacity for special storage

Since CAE is produced only during the six months of alfalfa harvest, Désialis decided that it should be stored in specialized sites. Considerable attention is paid to this phase in order to guarantee optimum preservation of the properties of CAE and thus fulfill customer requirements.

Carotenes and xanthophylls are sensitive to oxidation

Carotenes and xanthophylls are rich in carbon-carbon double bonds and so are particularly sensitive to oxidation. This oxidation reaction is initiated and maintained by light, heat, and atmospheric oxygen. During the initiation phase, the reaction is slow, intensifying exponentially thereafter: this is an auto-catalytic reaction.

Four types of leverage

In order to maximally reduce these degradation reactions, four effective storage technique steps are taken:

• Darkness: once CAE pigments are produced, they are no longer exposed to UV from surrounding light, from the storage bin until final packaging.
• Antioxidants: their addition to CAE reduces the oxidation of pigments by replacing them in oxidation reactions and stopping reactions that have been initiated.
• Anaerobiosis: CAE is stored in bins under a modified atmosphere. The atmosphere is continually rendered inert by nitrogen, thereby controlling and minimizing the quantity of oxygen in contact with the pigments.
• Cold: low temperatures reduce the rate of oxidation reactions. CAE is chilled and then stored under cold conditions.

Désialis has developed two approaches to storage :

Storage under inert gas (nitrogen), is a well controlled technique for many years and was specially designed to preserve all the nutritional values of CAE. This system retains 70 % of xanthophylls. Depending on the throughput rate of factories, the product is placed under nitrogen at the emergence of the plants.

Storage in positive cold considerably reduces the rate of oxidation reactions of xanthophylls. It also reduces the risk of the development of mould.

These processes enable the contractual guarantee of the quantity of Total Xanthophylls (or Lutein - Zeaxanthin).