Production of docosahexaenoic acid through enzymatic hydrolysis of Omega-3 rich oil

• High DHA concentration (>90 %) in anchovy oil capsules as TAG. • Efficient immobilization of lipases on Immobeads-C18 enables rapid hydrolysis. • 100 % hydrolysis of DHA achieved in just 24 h with NS40-C18. • NS40-C18 retains 100 % activity after 6 reuse cycles. • Free DHA serves as a precursor for valuable omega-3 derivatives. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an essential omega-3 fatty acid, is crucial for the normal development and function of the brain. Its production can be achieved through the partial hydrolysis of DHA-rich triglycerides catalyzed by lipases, particularly from fish oils. In this work, the characterization of anchovy oil capsules revealed that they offer a pure and concentrated source of DHA, with more than 90 % of the oil in the form of triglycerides. Therefore, the hydrolysis reaction was studied with the aim of releasing 100 % of the DHA present in this oil, using different immobilized lipases with maximum enzyme loading on the hydrophobic support Immobeads-C18. The study’s results revealed that our immobilization strategy through hydrophobic adsorption improved the catalytic properties of activity and selectivity of the TLL lipase compared to other biocatalysts described in the literature. Additionally, complete hydrolysis of the oil was achieved in just 24 h with the NS40-C18 derivative, which could be reused up to 6 cycles without loss of activity.