METHOD FOR ENRICHMENT OF EICOSAPENTAENOIC ACID AND DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID IN SOURCE OILS

摘要

An simpler, cheaper method for enhancing the percentage of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and/or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from source oils has been discovered. This method hydrolyzes the oil using the lipase enzyme but does not inactivate the lipase enzyme with either added chemicals or increased temperature. The method relies on centrifugation to separate the enzyme from the desired oil and separate the oil from aqueous impurities. The hydrolyzed oil is enhanced with EPA and DHA, and can be further purified by using activated surface adsorbents, e.g., activated alumina, to remove more free fatty acids and impurities.