Abstract
Attempts were made to remove the oxidation products from fish oil with membrane process as an improved refining method. A study was conducted with hexane-diluted fish oils of Engraulis japonicus and Maurolicus japonicus in a batch membrane cell using hydrophobic nonporous denser membrane. Peroxide, anisidine and TOTOX values were reduced by 58-72%, 45-75% and 53-73%, respectively. During the membrane process, fatty acids compositions of both fish oils were not changed. The membrane process has an effect in the removal of oxidation products such as toxicity, off-flavor, and color compounds maintaining the beneficial function arising from polyunsaturated fatty acids of fish oils. In the fish oilhexane systems, when the oil contents of feeds were 25-33%, the oil fluxes were obtained in the range of 1.0-2.0 kg/(m2 h). In addition, preferential permeations of hexane over fish oils through the membrane were observed.
