Stable, pulverulent lycopene formulations, comprising lycopene having a degree of crystallinity of greater than 20%

DETAILED DESCRIPTION We claim: 1.
A process for the preparation of stable, pulverulent lycopene formulations, comprising lycopene having a degree of crystallinity of greater than 20%, which comprises a) preparing a molecularly disperse solution of lycopene, if appropriate together with an emulsifier and/or an edible oil in a water-miscible, organic solvent or a mixture of water and a water-miscible, organic solvent at temperatures of greater than 30.
degree.
C.
, b) mixing this solution with an aqueous solution of a protective colloid, the hydrophilic solvent component being transferred into the aqueous phase, and the hydrophobic phase of the lycopene resulting as a nanodisperse phase, c) and freeing the formed dispersion from the solvent and the water for the preparation of a water-dispersible dry powder and, if appropriate, drying in the presence of a coating material.
2.
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein in step a) the molecularly disperse lycopene solution is prepared at temperatures from 50 to 240.
degree.
C.
and immediately subsequently mixed with the aqueous solution of the protective colloid in step b, a mixing temperature of approximately 35 to 80.
degree.
C.
being set.
3.
A pulverulent lycopene formulation prepared by a process as claimed in claim 1, comprising lycopene having a degree of crystallinity of greater than 20%.
4.
A lycopene formulation as claimed in claim 3, comprising 0.
5 to 25% by weight of lycopene, 10 to 50% by weight of a protective colloid, 20 to 70% by weight of a plasticizer, 0 to 10% by weight of a stabilizer, all percentage data based on the dry mass of the powder.
5.
A lycopene formulation as claimed in claim 3, comprising lycopene having an all-trans isomer content of at least 50%.
6.
A lycopene formulation as claimed in claim 3, comprising lycopene having a particle size of less than 10 .
mu.
m.
7.
A lycopene formulation as claimed in claim 3, which is water-dispersible.
8.
A process for the preparation of stable, aqueous lycopene dispersions, comprising lycopene having a degree of crystallinity of greater than 20%, which comprises a) preparing a molecularly disperse solution of lycopene, if appropriate together with an emulsifier and/or an edible oil in a water-miscible, organic solvent or a mixture of water and a water-miscible, organic solvent at temperatures of greater than 30