Extraction of fish oil from the muscle of sturgeon using supercritical fluids

This study evaluated the extraction of oil from sturgeon (Acipenser baeri) muscle using supercritical fluids. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to identify and quantify the variables, namely extraction pressure, extraction time and CO flow rate on the yield of oil. Statistical analysis indicated that for all three variables, the quadratic terms and interactions between the variables had significant effects on yield (p < 0.05). Polynomial regression model predictions were in good agreement with the experimental results, with a coefficient of determination of 0.9936 for yield. Maximum yield from sturgeon muscle was 26.83% with a pressure of 315.8 bar, extraction time of 10.8 min and CO flow rate of 3.5 l/min, which closely matched the predicted value (26.70%). The characteristics of the fish oil extracted with the supercritical fluids were superior to those of oil obtained by other methods. © (2013) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland.