Effect of supercritical fluid extraction on the reduction of toxic elements in fish oil compared with other extraction methods

Impact of various extraction methods on fatty acid profile, physicochemical properties, and nutritional quality index of Pangus fish oil

Marine fish are high in essential omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for human health. This study evaluated the effects of four extraction methods (soxhlet extraction, SE; wet rendering, WR; acid silage, AS; microwave-assisted extraction, MAE) on the oil yield, physicochemical properties, fatty acid profile, and nutritional quality index (NQI) of pangus fish oil. The oil yield ranged from 13.50% to 21.80%, with MAE having the highest yield. Furthermore, MAE oil has the lowest free fatty acid (0.70%), peroxides (2.08 Meq/kg), and saponification (287.27 mg/g KOH) value. There were no significant differences (p > .05) in the refractive index and melting point of oils among extraction techniques. A total of 25 fatty acids were identified. However, the maximum PUFA, MUFA, and SFA recovery was observed in the SE (19.15 mg/100 g), MAE (7.99 mg/100 g), and AS (17.33 mg/100 g), respectively. In terms of NQI, SE had higher PUFA/SFA, HH, and LA/ALA ratios, while AS had higher EPA + DHA, n-3/n-6, AI, TI, and FLQ indices. Furthermore, the MAE approach yielded better ratios of n-3/n-6 and HPI index, whereas the WR method yielded a higher AI index. Therefore, MAE would be the most efficient method for extracting pangus fish oil by considering both technical feasibility and quality indices including extraction yield, best physical properties, oxidative stability, and fatty acid contents.

Cleaner lipid processing: Supercritical carbon dioxide (Sc-CO2) and short path distillation

Today, regulations and consumer awareness demand production technologies with minimum impact on the environment and maximum utilization of available resources. In the field of lipids, two well-known technologies for avoiding the use of organic solvents and chemicals stand out: supercritical (Sc) fluids and short path distillation (SPD). To date, both technologies involve high operating costs that have limited their application to selected high value-added products which are high temperature sensitive. However, improvements in process control and materials make further implementation of these techniques possible. In this chapter, an integrative review has been carried out with the aim of compiling the literature on the application of these technologies to lipid extraction, micronization and fractionation of liquid mixtures. Special attention has been paid to the separation of compounds by both technologies: deacidification, partial purification of acylglycerol compounds, isolation of unsaponifiable compounds and separation of toxic and polluting compounds.

Resource recovery from fish waste: Prospects and the usage of intensified extraction technologies

Globally, the valorization of fish biowaste as a feedstock to recover valuable components is an emerging research and commercial interest area to achieve the SDG goals by 2030. Fish waste-derived biomolecules are increasingly finding diverse applications in food and other biotechnological fields due to their excellent chemical, structural and functional properties. The focus of this review is to highlight the conventional valorization routes and recent advancements in extraction technologies for resource recovery applications, primarily focusing on green processes. Biointensified processes involving ultrasound, microwave, sub- and supercritical fluids, pulsed electric field, high-pressure processing, and cold plasma are extensively explored as sustainable technologies for valorizing fish discards and found numerous applications in the production of functional and commercially important biomaterials. With challenges in recovering intracellular bioactive compounds, selectivity, and energy requirement concerns, conventional approaches are being relooked continuously in the quest for process intensification and sustainable production practices. Nonetheless, in the context of 'zero waste' and 'biorefinery for high-value compounds', there is immense scope for technological upgradation in these emerging alternative approaches. This work details such attempts, providing insights into the immense untapped potential in this sector.

Sc-CO2 extraction of fish and fish by-products in the production of fish oil and enzyme

Supercritical carbon dioxide (Sc-CO2) is an alternative tool to extract lipid for the production of fish oil and enzyme from fish by-products (FBPs). In the application of Sc-CO2, this review covers sample preparation, lipid extraction operation, and characterization of fish oil and enzyme as final products. Generally, the fish samples with moisture content less than 20% and particle size less than 5 mm are considered before lipid extraction with Sc-CO2. Sc-CO2 parameters, such as pressure (P), temperature (T), extraction time (text), and flow rate (F), for simultaneous recovery of fish oil, protein, and enzyme were found to be less severe (P: 10.3-25 MPa; T: 25-45 °C, text: 20-150 min; F: 3-50 g/min) than the extraction of fish oil alone (P: 10-40 Mpa; T: 35-80 °C; text: 30-360 min; F: 1-3000 g/min). The enzyme from the Sc-CO2 defatted sample showed higher activity up to 45 U/mg due to lower denaturation of protein as compared to the organic solvent treated sample albeit both samples having similar pH (6-10) and temperature stability (20-60 °C). Overall, mild extraction of lipid from FBPs using Sc-CO2 is effective for the production of enzymes suitable in various industrial applications. Also, fish oil as a result of extraction can be produced as a health product with high polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and low contamination of heavy metals.

Determination of Total Mercury and Methylmercury Concentrations in Commercial Canine Diets

Methylmercury is an organic form of mercury that is well recognized for its bioaccumulation in aquatic species. Consumption of fish contaminated with methylmercury poses a toxicological health risk to both humans and animals. Salmon is an increasingly common ingredient in commercial pet foods because of manufacturers' interest in unconventional protein sources and inclusion of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Previous studies have measured total mercury, but not methylmercury, in commercial pet foods. The purpose of this study was to evaluate total mercury and methylmercury concentrations in commercially available salmon-containing and nonsalmon-containing canine diets and to estimate risk of chronic exposure in dogs fed these diets long term. Total mercury was detected in 3 of 24 diets evaluated (12.5%), 2 of which did not contain any ingredients from fish. The single salmon-containing diet that contained total mercury was the lowest of the 3 but was also the only sample positive for methylmercury. None of the 3 mercury-containing diets contained fish oil. Concentrations of total mercury were similar to most data previously reported for pet foods. Using expected calorie intake for dogs of 2 body weights, the mercury concentrations determined in this study were applied to theoretical chronic exposure calculations to assess risk of toxicosis to dogs. Total mercury and methylmercury were uncommonly identified in the commercially available canine diets sampled in this study and were found in concentrations unlikely to pose risk to healthy adult dogs. Common sources of mercury in pet foods remain unknown and are not reliably of seafood origin.