Study On Continuous Extraction Of EPA And DHA From Fish Oil Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

EPA(eicosapentaenoate) and DHA(docosahexaenoate) abundant in fish oil have healthful physical effects on cardiovascular disease, anti-inflammation , anticancer, maintaining neural growth, slowing aging, etc. The study on purification of EPA and DHA from fish oil is becoming a focus recently.The Objective of this work is to obtain the optimum technical conditions for continuous extraction of EPA and DHA from fish oil using supercritical carbon dioxide.The experiment was carried out in a 25mm(I.D.)×4800mm column, having six feeding entrances and a six-step temperate gradient. Judging by total content and total yield of EPA and DHA in bottom, flow rate ratio of carbon dioxide to fish oil, extracting pressure, temperate gradient, feeding position were investigated.For flow rate ratio of carbon dioxide to fish oil, extracting pressure, and temperature gradient, orthogenesis tests were carried out at a fixed 4ml/min fish oil flow rate and at the second feeding entrance. By orthogenesis test, optimum technical conditions of continuous extraction of EPA and DHA from fish oil using supercritical carbon dioxide were determined: fish oil flow rate 4ml/min, carbon dioxide flow rate 24 I/min, extracting pressure 12.5MPa, temperature gradient 42-90℃, and the second feeding entrance, with total content of 86.0% and total yield of 60.6% of EPA and DHA in bottom .The study shows that the technics of continuous extraction is applicable, and the effect of extraction is desirable.