Separation of a complex carotenoid isomer mixture

Carotenoids tend to form geometric isomers, so they can occur as all-trans (all-E) or as cis (Z) isomers. They arise, for example, from the effects of light or heat on vegetables and fruits or their extracts. They also occur naturally or are formed in the human body. Due to the different shape of the Z isomers (kinked shape instead of linear and rigid), the isomers can differ drastically in their properties such as solubilisation or adsorption as well as transport in the human body. Lycopene, for example, occurs predominantly in foods as the all-E isomer, while in the human body it predominantly occurs as the Z isomer. This means that the lycopene is either immediately isomerised by the human body or the all-E form is poorly absorbed.