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Table 2 Summary of PUFA enrichment processes

From: Microalgal biofactories: a promising approach towards sustainable omega-3 fatty acid production

Method

Procedure

Molecular distillation (Fractional distillation)

Purification of fatty acid esters in a vacuum system based on the different boiling points of different fatty acids [105].

Molecular sieves

Separation via membrane permeability and selectivity [106].

PUFA transformations

Esterification of PUFA and free fatty acids to produce esters (ethyl-, glyceryl-, sugar-, other). Inter-esterification to enrich lowly unsaturated fatty acids with PUFA [107].

Super Critical Fluid Extraction

Optimization of lipid solubility and fractionation in supercritical CO2[108].

Urea complexation

Solubilization of fatty acids, adding urea and ethanol to saturation point exposing it to heat. Recovery of product by filtration [109].

Winterization

Temperature reduction to render more saturated fats insoluble [110].