Enhancing omega 3 & 6 richness in fish oils with VITO’s innovative membrane technology

How it works

The process begins with the treatment of fish oil using a specialized enzyme. This biocatalytic step selectively removes short-chain and saturated fatty acids from the triglyceride structure of the oil and converts these fractions into ethyl esters. By eliminating these unwanted components, the process significantly increases the relative concentration of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids—nutrients well-known for their benefits to human health, which find applications in a range of food products, from margarine formulations to dietary supplements.

Once the enzyme reaction is complete, the resulting mixture contains both the valuable omega-rich oil and the by-product ethyl esters. Here, VITO’s membrane separation technology plays a crucial role. The membrane unit is engineered to selectively separate the ethyl esters from the omega-enriched oil, enhancing the concentration of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids in the final product. This two-step process—first enzymatic modification, then membrane separation—ensures a high-quality, nutritionally superior oil product. 
 

Integrating membrane technology in an industrial setting

While laboratory-scale experiments provided promising results, the true challenge was demonstrating the process under industrial conditions. To this end, a specially constructed enzyme reactor and VITO’s membrane unit were transported to a leading omega 3/6 manufacturers’ production facilities in Spain. The integration of these systems allowed for the simultaneous treatment and separation of fish oil, running continuously for more than 1,000 hours. This successful demonstration not only highlights the operational reliability of the combined technology but also its potential for direct implementation in the food processing industry.
 

Key benefits and impact

• Enhanced nutritional profile 
  By targeting and removing less beneficial fatty acids, the process significantly boosts the omega 3 and 6 content of fish oil.

• Innovative integration 
  The coupling of enzyme treatment with membrane separation offers a streamlined, single-step process, reducing production times and improving overall efficiency.

• Scalability 
  Demonstrated through over 1,000 hours of continuous operation in an industrial setting, the technology is ready for commercial-scale applications.

• Health & wellness 
  With growing consumer demand for high-quality omega-enriched products, this technology supports the development of healthier food additives and supplements. 

   

About MACBETH 

The MACBETH consortium has developed a breakthrough technology that combines catalytic synthesis and separation processes into one highly efficient catalytic membrane reactor (CMR). This innovative reactor can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in large-scale industrial processes by up to 35% while improving resource and energy efficiency by up to 70%. In addition, its revolutionary design leads to smaller, safer production plants and offers major cost savings—with capital expenditures (CAPEX) reduced by up to 50% and operating expenses (OPEX) by up to 80%.