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CO2 Extraction Process for Fish Oil and Lecithin

Saury oil and lecithin

Generally speaking, the fat content in fish viscera is higher, the fat content in saury viscera is 25.1%, and the lecithin content is also richer.

Fatty acid composition of saury oil

In the fatty acid composition of saury visceral lecithin, the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids accounted for the most, reaching 27.7%, and the most important EPA and DHA reached 5.6% and 27.4%, respectively. The content of DHA was the highest of all fatty acids.

The content of erucic acid is the most in monounsaturated fatty acids, and palmitic acid is the most in saturated fatty acids. The DHA/EPA ratio of saury viscera lecithin was 4.9, while the DHA/EPA ratios of squid and anchovies were 1.4 and 2.8, respectively.

Lecithin

Lecithin is mainly found in egg yolks, soybeans, and animal and plant tissues. Soy lecithin is rich in saturated fatty acids and low in unsaturated fatty acids. The fatty acid composition of the phospholipids in the egg yolk is not ideal, and the cholesterol level is relatively high.

Lecithin (marine lecithin) from marine organisms is rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which can be better absorbed by tissues, and has attracted widespread attention. In addition, it can reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease, hypertension, and Alzheimer’s disease, and improve the brain and vision functions of infants and young children.

Here are some benefits of fish CO2 oil and CO2 lecithin:

Benefits of Fish CO2 Oil

  1. High in Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Fish oil extracted using CO2 contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked to a range of health benefits, such as reducing inflammation and improving heart health.
  2. Pure and Safe: The CO2 extraction method is a safe and effective way to extract fish oil without the use of harsh chemicals and solvents. This ensures a pure, high-quality product that is safe for consumption.
  3. Versatile: Fish oil extracted using CO2 can be used in a variety of applications, such as dietary supplements, food additives, and even industrial lubricants.

Benefits of CO2 Lecithin

  1. Emulsifying Properties: CO2-extracted lecithin is a natural emulsifier, which means it helps to blend and stabilize oil and water-based ingredients. This makes it a popular ingredient in food and beverage production, as well as in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
  2. Non-Toxic: CO2 extraction does not use solvents that are potentially harmful to human health. As a result, CO2-extracted lecithin is a non-toxic ingredient that can be used in a wide range of products.
  3. Health Benefits: Lecithin is a rich source of choline, which is an essential nutrient that plays an important role in brain and liver function. CO2-extracted lecithin retains its nutritional value, making it a desirable ingredient in health supplements and other products.

Table: A comparison of CO2 Extraction and Solvent Extraction for extracting fish oil and lecithin

CriteriaCO2 ExtractionSolvent Extraction
SafetyNon-toxicPotentially toxic
Quality of ProductHigh qualityLower quality
Environmental ImpactLow impactHigh impact
CostHigher costLower cost
Versatility of ProductsWide range of usesLess versatile

The CO2 extraction process of fish oil and lecithin

For supercritical CO2 extraction method of fish oil and lecithin, both the yield and properties of fish oil and lecithin must be considered, as well as factors such as extraction cost. Therefore, the process parameters to be investigated for the extraction of fish oil and lecithin are 3 and 4 respectively: Extraction pressure, extraction temperature, and extraction time; extraction pressure, extraction temperature, entrainer (absolute ethanol) flow rate, and extraction time.

Carry out single-factor experiments separately to determine the optimal extraction conditions and factor levels. Due to the limitation of the test equipment, the maximum extraction pressure cannot exceed 45MPa, so the fixed factor conditions for the fish oil extraction single factor test are the extraction pressure 40MPa, the extraction temperature of 45°C, and the extraction time of 2.5h; the fixed factor conditions for the lecithin extraction single factor test The extraction pressure is 40MPa, the extraction temperature is 50°C, the entrainer flow rate is 1.5mL/min, and the extraction time is 2h. Change any of these factors to perform the experiment. On the basis of single-factor experiments, response surface analysis was used to optimize the optimal process parameters for supercritical extraction of fish oil and lecithin.

The CO2 extraction method for fish oil

Supercritical CO2 extraction of Cololabis saury oil Weigh about 30g of raw material wet sample into a 50mL extraction kettle, check the air tightness of the equipment, and set the extraction temperature and outlet valve temperature. Open the CO2, and N2 gas storage tank valve set the required extraction pressure, and open the outlet valve to collect the extract. Accurately weigh the quality of the saury visceral oil and calculate the yield. Yield (%) = saury oil quality / raw material quality xl00.

Fish oil CO2 extraction process

  • Extraction pressure: 450 bar;
  • Extraction temperature: 55°C;
  • Extraction time 3h;
  • Separation pressure: 95 bar;
  • Separation temperature: 60°C

CO2 extraction method for fish lecithin

Supercritical CO2 extraction of saury lecithin The de-oiled saury viscera is extracted with anhydrous ethanol as a co-solvent for secondary extraction with supercritical CO2. The obtained lecithin ethanol solution is separated by vacuum distillation, and the lecithin is vacuum dried. Yield (%) = saury lecithin quality / raw material quality xl00.

Fish lecithin CO2 extraction process

  • Extraction pressure: 450 bar;
  • Extraction temperature: 50°C;
  • Extraction time 2.5h;
  • Separation pressure: 100 bar;
  • Separation temperature: 60°C

Identification of CO2 Extraction Method of Fish Lecithin

The extraction pressure is 45.0MPa, the extraction temperature is 50°C, the extraction time is 2.5h, and the cosolvent flow rate is 1.9mL/min. Under these conditions, the lecithin yield predicted by the response surface model was 9.2g/100g.

In the actual operation process, both feasibility factors and optimal results must be considered. Therefore, the actual extraction process conditions are determined as extraction pressure 45MPa, extraction temperature 50°C, extraction time 2.5h, and entrainer flow rate 2.0mL/ min. In order to verify the reliability of the test results, the actual extraction process conditions were used to carry out the verification test, and the actual yield of lecithin was 9.2g/100g, which was basically consistent with the theoretical prediction value.

Therefore, the lecithin extraction process parameters obtained by response surface analysis are true and credible and have practical value.

Experiment summary of CO2 extraction process of fish lecithin

The optimal process conditions for supercritical CO2 extraction of Cololabis saury oil and lecithin are extraction pressure 45MPa, extraction temperature 55, extraction time 3h; extraction pressure 45MPa, extraction temperature 50°C, extraction time 2.5h, and entrainer flow rate 2.0mL/min.

The order of the factors affecting the yield of fish oil is: extraction pressure>extraction time>extraction temperature.

Under the optimal process conditions, the yields of fish oil and lecithin reached 22.0g/100g (wet sample) and 9.2g/100g (wet sample), respectively. The obtained fish oil and lecithin are rich in unsaturated fatty acids. The fish oil contains the most monounsaturated fatty acids, and the lecithin contains the most polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially DHA, which has good quality.