Liquid-liquid extraction of astaxanthin from DMSO to ether.

(A) 1 mL of ether was added on top of 1 mL of astaxanthin in DMSO containing 20% water (i); the mixture was fully mixed (ii). The color of astaxanthin in DMSO turned from red to colorless. The ether phase turned from colorless to orange. The absorption spectra of astaxanthin stored in DMSO before and after extraction to ether were depicted. (B) The effect of water percentage (v/v) on the extraction yield of astaxanthin from DMSO/water mixture to ether. Each value is expressed as the mean ± standard deviation (n = 3).