Process for separating a triglyceride comprising a docosahexaenoic acid residue from a mixture of triglycerides

A process for separating a first triglyceride comprising a docosahexaenoic acid residue from a second triglyceride, said process comprising:

• introducing a feed mixture comprising said first triglyceride and said second triglyceride into a chromatographic separation zone;
• and
• isolating a fraction of said feed mixture in said separation zone, said fraction of said feed mixture having a mass ratio of said first triglyceride to said second triglyceride that is greater than in said feed mixture,
• wherein said separation zone comprises a stationary phase which comprises magnesium ions.

A process for separating a first triglyceride comprising a docosahexaenoic acid residue from a second triglyceride comprising a docosahexaenoic acid residue, said process comprising:

• introducing a feed mixture comprising said first triglyceride and said second triglyceride into a first chromatographic separation zone;
• isolating a first fraction of said feed mixture in said first separation zone, said first fraction having a mass ratio of said first triglyceride to said second triglyceride that is greater than in said feed mixture,
• wherein said first separation zone comprises a stationary phase which comprises metal ions that are capable of coordinating with a double bond of a fatty acid residue of said first triglyceride;
• isolating a second fraction of said feed mixture in said first separation zone, said second fraction comprising said second triglyceride;
• transesterifying said second triglyceride obtained in said second fraction to form an alkyl ester mixture comprising an alkyl ester of said docosahexaenoic acid residue and an alkyl ester of a second fatty acid;
• introducing said alkyl ester mixture into a second chromatographic separation zone;
• and
• isolating a fraction of said alkyl ester mixture in said second separation zone, said fraction of said alkyl ester mixture having a mass ratio of said alkyl ester of said docosahexaenoic acid residue to said alkyl ester of said second fatty acid that is greater than in said alkyl ester mixture,
• wherein said second separation zone comprises a stationary phase that comprises metal ions that are capable of coordinating with a double bond of said alkyl ester of said docosahexaenoic acid residue.

A process for separating a first triglyceride comprising a docosahexaenoic acid residue from a second triglyceride comprising a docosahexaenoic acid residue, said process comprising:

• introducing a feed mixture comprising said first triglyceride and said second triglyceride into a first chromatographic separation zone;
• isolating a first fraction of said feed mixture in said first separation zone, said first fraction having a mass ratio of said first triglyceride to said second triglyceride that is greater than in said feed mixture,
• wherein said first separation zone comprises a stationary phase which comprises metal ions that are capable of coordinating with a double bond of a fatty acid residue of said first triglyceride;
• isolating a second fraction of said feed mixture in said first separation zone, said second fraction comprising said second triglyceride;
• hydrolyzing said second triglyceride obtained in said second fraction to form a fatty acid mixture comprising docosahexaenoic acid and a second fatty acid;
• introducing said fatty acid mixture into a second chromatographic separation zone;
• and
• isolating a fraction of said fatty acid mixture in said second separation zone, said fraction of said fatty acid mixture having a mass ratio of docosahexaenoic acid to said second fatty acid that is greater than in said fatty acid mixture,
• wherein said second separation zone comprises a stationary phase which comprises metal ions that are capable of coordinating with a double bond of docosahexaenoic acid.