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Extraction and characterisation of lipids from Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba)
Food Chemistry (2011)
  • Joseph C. Gigliotti, Liberty University
  • Matthew P Davenport
  • Sarah K Beamer
  • Janet C. Tou
  • J Jaczynski
Abstract
There is significant commercial interest in oil extraction from krill because it is rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) such as eicosapentaenoic (EPA, 20:5n3) and docosahexaenoic (DHA, 22:6n3) acids. The objectives were to determine oil extraction efficiency using different solvent systems and the composition of extracted oil and spent krill following extraction. Extraction efficiency was the highest (P < 0.05) for one-step extraction using freeze-dried krill with 1:12 or 1:30 krill:solvent ratio (w:v) compared to Folch, Soxhlet, and conventional two-step extraction. Extracted oils contained predominantly phospholipids (20–33%), polar non-phospholipids (64–77%), and minor triglycerides (1–3%). Triglycerides contained much less (P < 0.05) total n-3 (4.0%), DHA (1.1%), and EPA (2.3%), but more (P < 0.05) saturated FA (38.7%) than phospholipids (total n-3-47.4%, DHA-18.0%, EPA-28.2%, saturated FA-23.5%). Antioxidant capacity of krill oil extracted by one-step extraction (9.4–14.2 μmol Trolox Equivalents/ml oil) was generally similar to antioxidant capacity of krill oil extracted by ethanol (22.9), but greater (P < 0.05) than antioxidant capacity of krill oil extracted by acetone (1.2) and Folch method (1.5). The spent krill following oil extraction contained protein (72.9–75.8%, dry basis). Based on the extraction efficiency and composition of the extracted oil, the one-step extraction using 1:12 krill:solvent ratio is recommended.
Publication Date
April 1, 2011
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2010.10.013
Citation Information
Joseph C. Gigliotti, Matthew P Davenport, Sarah K Beamer, Janet C. Tou, et al.. "Extraction and characterisation of lipids from Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba)" Food Chemistry Vol. 125 Iss. 3 (2011) p. 1028 - 1036 ISSN: 0308-8146
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/joseph-gigliotti/13/