Abstract: The aim of this study was to obtain astaxanthin through the oxidization of zeaxanthin,and to optimize the main influencing parameters of the oxidization process.Based on the experimental results,astaxanthin reached the highest productivity and yield(to 69% and 74%) with the following parameters:chloroform as the solvent,sodium bromic as the oxidant,40 as the ratio of chloroform/zeaxanthin and 6 as the ratio of sodium bromic/zeaxanthin ,and with12 hours’ reaction under an optimal environment(pH=9.5 and 30 ℃).Astaxanthin was structurally confirmed using HPLC-MS, ¹H-NMR and IR.

Key words: zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, oxidization