Separation of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids by Chromatography Using a Silver-Loaded Spherical Clay. II

Industrial Scale Preparation of High-Purity DHA.

Abstract

Docosahexaenoic acid ethyl ester (DHA-E) was refined by Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC) using silver-loaded spherical clay material [SC(Ag)] in the stationary phase. High purity DHA-E (99%) could thus be recovered to a greater degree by using the oil with high DHA-E content, and by enlarging the preparative column. This DHA-E was found to have reagent grade purity, and purification was not attended with deterioration. The time required for purification could be shortened by changing the purity of DHA-E from 99% to 95%, and more DHA-E per day of higher purity could thus be obtained by this new method.