Green ultrasound-assisted extraction of fish oil from rainbow trout intestines and purification with adsorbents

Abstract This study explored the application of green ultrasound-assisted technology for the extraction of oil from the intestines of rainbow trout. Purification methodologies were incorporated using adsorbents in order to enhance the quality of the extracted oil, which was evaluated based on its color, peroxide value (POV), free fatty acids, organic pollutants, and fatty acid composition. The extraction condition for maximum oil recovery was 60 °C for 30 min, with the addition of 1 g of sodium chloride and a water-to-sample ratio of 0:2. The analysis indicated that silica gel exhibited the highest efficiency as an adsorbent for the elimination of peroxides from extracted oil, with optimal results achieved after adsorption for 60 min. Despite undergoing purification, the POV of fish oil still exceeded the quality standard established by the CODEX Alimentarius Commission. In order to optimize the extraction process, the incorporation of antioxidants, including gallic acid, tannic acid, and Aronia (black chokeberry) powder, was implemented before the oil refining process. The integration of antioxidants and purification further lowered the POV and mitigated the production of organic pollutants, concurrently enhancing oil quality compared to without antioxidants. Notably, the incorporation of antioxidants during the initial stages of the extraction process resulted in a significant increase in the average concentrations of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the final products. Overall, this study revealed that Aronia has the potential to serve as a natural, less-costly antioxidant alternative to pure antioxidants, such as tannic acid and gallic acid. Furthermore, the potential nutritional value of the final refined oil sample derived from rainbow trout intestines can be improved in terms of ω-3 fatty acid content by the developed method.