The effect of bentonite utilization on the physicochemical characterization of eel (Anguilla bicolor bicolor) oil by wet rendering

Abstract

Eel fish is a fishery commodity that has important economic worth in an international trade market. Eel fish (Anguilla bicolor bicolor) has a protein, carbohydrate, and fatty acid. The fatty acid composition in eel fish makes it a potential source of fish oil for health supplement applications. The extraction method and the purification process determine the quality of the fish oil produced. Wet rendering, or wet extraction is considered to be the most commonly used fish oil separation process. However, this process must be subjected to additional treatment, namely purification to produce quality fish oil. This study aims to determine the effect of the addition of bentonite on the physicochemical profile of eel. The oil is extracted from all of the body eel fish parts except waste like intestines. The crude fish oil thus obtained is then further processed with bentonite for refining to obtain pure fish oil. The results showed the quality of eel oil in respectively: acid number 1.47±0.02 mg KOH/g fat, iodine number 105.51 ± 0.62 Wijs, saponification number 226.12±3.86 mg KOH/g and peroxide value 11.86±0.0221 mEq O2/kg. There is a change in physicochemical profile after purification using bentonite. The conclusion, was that utilization of bentonite for eel oil extraction using the wet rendering process may increase the quality of fish oil.