Phospholipid Extraction from Undried Fish Roe
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for obtaining omega-3 phospholipids from fish sources are inefficient, leading to low yields, high costs, and contamination issues due to heat-induced degradation and solvent concentration of pollutants, resulting in products with poor quality and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of undried fish roe or avian egg yolks contacted with a polar solvent, followed by membrane filtration to separate solvents and extract high omega-3 phospholipid compositions with reduced PCBs, PCDDs, PCDFs, and PAHs content, achieving a high DHA content and improved product stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional drying and solvent evaporation methods are used to extract phospholipids, then lipid extraction efficiency is improved, but product quality deteriorates due to heat-induced oxidation and degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the starting material from dried to undried fish roe, eliminating the need for high-temperature drying. This parameter change prevents thermal degradation of omega-3 fatty acids while maintaining extraction efficiency through optimized solvent contact with fresh tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts phospholipids directly from undried fish roe using polar solvents before oxidative degradation can occur. By taking out the desired phospholipid components through selective solvent extraction rather than thermal processing, the method preserves product quality while achieving efficient separation.
2Speed
If solvent evaporation by heat is used to concentrate lipid extracts, then extraction speed is improved, but harmful factors increase due to concentration of pollutants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses selective polar solvent extraction to take out phospholipids from fish roe while leaving non-polar pollutants behind. This selective extraction mechanism separates desired components from contaminants without requiring high-temperature evaporation that would concentrate harmful substances.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent exploits the different polarity characteristics of phospholipids versus pollutants to achieve local quality differentiation in the extraction process. Polar solvents selectively dissolve phospholipid components while non-polar contaminants remain in the solid matrix, enabling separation based on chemical property differences.
3Ease of manufacture
If fish roe is dried before extraction to remove water, then extraction simplicity is improved, but phospholipid availability decreases due to binding with tissue components
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of drying fish roe before extraction as in conventional methods, the patent inverts the sequence by extracting phospholipids from undried roe. This inversion prevents phospholipid binding to tissue proteins that occurs during drying, maintaining higher availability and extractability of the target compounds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs extraction as a preliminary action before drying or freezing that would cause phospholipid binding. By conducting the extraction process on fresh, undried tissue, the method ensures maximum phospholipid availability before any structural changes occur in the tissue matrix.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The process yields a high-quality, stable phospholipid composition with enhanced DHA content, reduced pollutant levels, and improved safety and environmental profiles, suitable for dietary supplements and food products.
Implementation Method 1
contacting undried fish roe or avian egg yolks with a polar solvent, extracting a lipid fraction from the fish roe or the avian egg yolks
Implementation Method 2
subjecting the solution to membrane filtration to provide a retentate
Implementation Method 3
removing water from the retentate to provide a solid phospholipid composition
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides methods for obtaining lipid compositions comprising phospholipids having a high docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content, which compositions are preferably extracted from natural sources such as fish roe. The lipid compositions are excellent sources of highly bioavailable DHA and they can be used in oral delivery vehicles, dietary supplements, functional foods, and the like.