Otimização das condições de produção de ésteres etílicos a partir de óleo de peixe com elevado teor de ácidos graxos ômega-3

Abstract

Recebido em 12/7/05; aceito em 16/12/05; publicado na web em 6/7/06 OPTIMIZATION OF THE PRODUCTION CONDITIONS OF ETHYL ESTERES FROM FISH OIL WITH HIGH CONTENT OF IN ω-3 LONG CHAIN FATTY ACIDS. The production of ethyl esters by alcoholysis is an alternative for splitting triacylglycerols due to the possibility of using low temperatures, which results in oxidative protection of the polyunsaturated fatty acids. Ethyl esters produced under mild conditions of temperature could be used as substrate for obtaining structured lipids. The reaction parameters of production of ethyl esters from fish oil with high content of ω-3 fatty acids by alcoholysis were optimized using response surface methodology. An experimental design (2 3) (with levels +1 and –1, six axial points with levels -α and +α and three central points) was applied. The variables investigated were concentration of catalyst, amount of ethyl alcohol and temperature. Ethyl ester conversion was monitored by high performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) and the best result obtained was 95% conversion rate. The optimal conditions were 40 °C, 1% of NaOH and 36% of ethanol.