Polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrates from borage and linseed oil fatty acids

A modified low-temperature solvent crystallization process was employed for the enrichment of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in borage and linseed oil fatty acids. The effects of solvent, operation temperature, and solven t to free fatty acid (FFA) ratio on the concentration of PUFA were investig ated. The best results were achieved when a mixture of 30% acetonitrile and 70% acetone was used as the solvent. With an operation temperature of -80 degreesC and a solvent to FFA ratio of 30 mL/g, gamma -linolenic acid (GLA) in FFA of saponified borage oil can be raised from 23.4 to 88.9% with a yi eld of 62.0%. At a yield of 24.9%, alpha -linolenic acid in linseed oil can be increased from 55.0 to 85.7%. The results of this work are comparable t o the best results available in the literature.