Abstract
The search for economic and sustainable sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) within the framework of the circular economy is encouraged by their proven beneficial effects on health. The extraction of monkfish liver oil (MLO) for the synthesis of omega-3 ethyl esters was performed to evaluate two blending systems and four green solvents in this work. Moreover, the potential solubility of the MLO in green solvents was studied using the predictive simulation software COnductor-like Screening MOdel for Realistic Solvents (COSMO-RS). The production of ethyl esters was performed by one or two-step reactions. Novozym 435, two resting cells (Aspergillus flavus and Rhizopus oryzae) obtained in our laboratory and a mix of them were used as biocatalysts in a solvent-free system. The yields for Novozym 435, R. oryzae and A. flavus in the one-step esterification were 63, 61 and 46%, respectively. The hydrolysis step in the two-step reaction led to 83, 88 and 93% of free fatty acids (FFA) for Novozym 435, R. oryzae and A. flavus, respectively. However, Novozym 435 showed the highest yield in the esterification step (85%), followed by R. oryzae (65%) and A. flavus (41%). Moreover, selectivity of polyunsaturated fatty acids of R. oryzae lipase was evidenced as it slightly esterified docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in all the esterification reactions tested.
Highlights
Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated the health benefits of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), in particular those known as omega-3 [1]
We developed a process that potentiates the use of fish coproducts to synthesize products with industrial potential, such as the ethyl esters of PUFAs, which are significant for various applications, such as cosmetics, food pharmacy and others
A COSMO-RS simulation was conducted to determine the relative solubility of the four main TAGs of monkfish liver oil (MLO) in the targeted solvents. 1H-NMR oil analysis was used to determine that TAGs were the main lipids present in the fish oil and to determine the main fatty acids present in the oil
Summary
Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated the health benefits of PUFAs, in particular those known as omega-3 [1]. The main omega-3 fatty acids are α-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The main health effects of omega-3 fatty acids isolated and combined as ethyl esters have been described for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) [2,3]. Beneficial effects have been described in diseases such as diabetes [4], immune system problems [5] and cancer [6,7]. Omega-3 fatty acid and its ethyl esters have become important as nutraceutical ingredients in functional food products and in pharmaceuticals [10,11], among other uses
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