An improved method for the extraction of -beta carotene from Blakeslea trispora is described. The fermentation broth was steamed at 121 degreesC for 15 min, and the liquid was centrifuged at 5000g for 20 min. beta -Carotene was removed from the biomass by extraction with absolute ethanol at a ratio of 1:100 at 30 degreesC for 2 h in a rotary shaker incubator at 300 rpm. The carotenoid pigment was completely removed from the cells after three repeated extractions. The removal of beta -carotene from B. trispora was higher during the first stage (75%) whereas in the other stages it was very slow.