Synthesis and Performance Evaluation of ELVALOY®4170 Polymeric Membrane for Separation and Concentration of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 is an acid that exists in the structure of some fats and has a vital role in the human health. Thus, the widespread research has been done to concentrate and purify the omega-3 from fish oil. In this research, the performance of membrane process in long chain omega-3 fatty acid concentration of Lantern fish oil which contains 25.23 wt.% omega-3, was investigated. To synthesize the membrane, the ELVALOY®4170 was used and the membrane was prepared through phase inversion method. The morphology of prepared membrane was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. In concentration process, the effects of three parameters including temperature, pressure and mixing rate were studied through Box-Behnken statistical method. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the prepared membrane consists of porous structure with thin dense toplayer. The obtained results from concentration process studied through ANOVA method and indicated that between evaluated parameters, temperature had the highest impact on concentration process. Moreover, the fouling behavior of membranes at different mixing rate was studied and outcomes revealed that the lowest fouling occurred at 100 rpm. Among various concentration process parameters, the highest value omega-3 concentration of 37.32% was obtained at temperature of 40 °C, pressure of 5 bar and mixing rate of zero.