# US 8,772,516 B2 · Solvent-free process for obtaining phospholipids and neutral enriched krill oils > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,772,516 B2 - Document ID: US8772516B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/096,644 - Filed: 2011-04-28 - Published: 2011-09-15 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2009-10-30 - Assignees: Tharos Ltd.; Lonza Ltd. - Applicants: Dimitri Sclabos Katevas; Raul R. Toro Guerra; Mario M. Chiong Lay - Inventors: Dimitri Sclabos Katevas; Raul R. Toro Guerra; Mario M. Chiong Lay - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8772516B2 ## CPC - C11B 1/16: with steam - A23D 9/007: characterised by ingredients other than fatty acid triglycerides - A23D 9/013: Other fatty acid esters, e.g. phosphatides - A23L 17/40: Shell-fish - A23L 33/115: Fatty acids or derivatives thereof; Fats or oils - A61K 8/553: {Phospholipids, e.g. lecithin} - A61K 8/925: {of animal origin} - A61K 35/612: Crustaceans, e.g. crabs, lobsters, shrimps, krill or crayfish; Barnacles - A61K 35/63: Arthropods (aquatic crustaceans A61K35/612) - A61K 35/64: Insects, e.g. bees, wasps or fleas - A61P 3/06: Antihyperlipidemics - A61P 3/10: for hyperglycaemia, e.g. antidiabetics - A61P 9/06: Antiarrhythmics - A61P 9/10: for treating ischaemic or atherosclerotic diseases, e.g. antianginal drugs, coronary vasodilators, drugs for myocardial infarction, retinopathy, cerebrovascula insufficiency, renal arteriosclerosis - A61P 9/12: Antihypertensives - A61P 15/08: for gonadal disorders or for enhancing fertility, e.g. inducers of ovulation or of spermatogenesis - A61P 17/00: Drugs for dermatological disorders - A61P 17/02: for treating wounds, ulcers, burns, scars, keloids, or the like - A61P 17/06: Antipsoriatics - A61P 17/08: Antiseborrheics - A61P 17/10: Anti-acne agents - A61P 19/02: for joint disorders, e.g. arthritis, arthrosis - A61P 37/08: Antiallergic agents (antiasthmatic agents A61P11/06; ophthalmic antiallergics A61P27/14) - A61P 43/00: Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00 - A61Q 1/12: Face or body powders for grooming, adorning or absorbing - A61Q 17/04: Topical preparations for affording protection against sunlight or other radiation; Topical sun tanning preparations - A61Q 19/00: Preparations for care of the skin - A61Q 19/007: {Preparations for dry skin} - C11B 1/02: Pretreatment - C11B 1/06: by pressing - C11B 13/00: Recovery of fats, fatty oils or fatty acids from waste materials - A23V 2002/00: Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs - A61K 2800/70: Biological properties of the composition as a whole - A61Q 1/06: Lipsticks - A61Q 1/10: for eyes, e.g. eyeliner, mascara - Y02W 30/74: Recovery of fats, fatty oils, fatty acids or other fatty substances, e.g. lanolin or waxes - C11B: PRODUCING, e.g. BY PRESSING RAW MATERIALS OR BY EXTRACTION FROM WASTE MATERIALS, REFINING OR PRESERVING FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES, e.g. LANOLIN, FATTY OILS OR WAXES; ESSENTIAL OILS; PERFUMES (drying-oils C09F) - A23D: EDIBLE OILS OR FATS, e.g. MARGARINES, SHORTENINGS OR COOKING OILS (preservation thereof A23B20/00; production, refinement or preservation of animal or vegetable fats or oils C11B, C11C) - A23L: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B) - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - A61P: SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS - A61Q: SPECIFIC USE OF COSMETICS OR SIMILAR TOILETRY PREPARATIONS - A23V: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LACTIC OR PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA USED IN FOODSTUFFS OR FOOD PREPARATION - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT ## Abstract Organic solvent-free processes for obtaining krill oil compositions are disclosed. The processes include a) cooking krill in a cooker vessel for a time and at a temperature sufficient to denature the protein content of the krill and cause a first solid krill fraction and a first liquid krill fraction to be formed while substantially avoiding emulsification of the first solid and first liquid krill fractions; b) removing the first solid and first liquid krill fractions from the cooker vessel at a temperature of at least about 90° C.; c) separating the first solid fraction and the first liquid fraction; and d) obtaining krill oil with neutral enriched from the first liquid fraction, and e) by pressing of first solid fraction to obtain press liquid or a second liquid krill fraction for obtaining krill oil with phospholipids enriched krill oil, the separating and the obtaining steps being carried out without the use of organic solvents. Krill oil compositions made by the process are also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An organic solvent-free process for producing krill oil, comprising: a) cooking krill in a cooker vessel for a time and at a temperature sufficient to denature the protein content of the krill and cause a first solid krill fraction and a first liquid krill fraction to be thrilled while substantially avoiding emulsification of the first solid and first liquid krill fractions; b) removing the first solid and first liquid krill fractions from the cooker vessel at a temperature of at least about 90° C.; c) separating the first solid fraction and the first liquid fraction; and d) obtaining krill oil from either the first liquid fraction or the first solid fraction, said separating and said obtaining steps being carried out without the use of organic solvents. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1, wherein the krill is harvested and cooked at sea. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the cooking is carried out using indirect steam heating and live steam injection. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the first solid and first liquid krill fractions being removed from the cooker vessel have a temperature of from about 90 to about 100° C. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The process of claim 2, wherein the cooking is conducted within about 4 hours of harvesting the krill and without freezing the krill before cooking. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the cooking is conducted in a horizontal cooker vessel equipped with an internal screw conveyor with indirect steam heating which rotates to move the krill from an entrance of the cooker vessel to an exit of the cooker vessel the screw conveyor rotating at about 1 to about 100 rpm; and live steam being injected into the cooker vessel to cook the krill. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the separating is conducted using a decanter operated at speed about 3,000 rpm or higher. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The process of claim 7, wherein the separating is conducted using decanter operated at a torque of about 1 to about 10 KN-m. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the obtaining krill oil from the first solid fraction comprises squeezing the first solid fraction to obtain a second solid fraction. and a second liquid fraction; and separating the second liquid fraction therefrom to obtain krill oil enriched with phospholipids and water. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The process of claim 9, wherein the squeezing is conducted in a two screw press, wherein the screws thereof are rotated at about 2 to 10 rpm and the first solid fraction has a temperature of about 90° to about 100° C. when fed to the two screw press. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The process of claim 9, wherein the separating of the second liquid fraction is conducted in a centrifuge separator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The process of claim 9, wherein the separating of the second liquid fraction is conducted by centrifuging the second liquid fraction to remove water and obtain the krill oil enriched in phospholipids. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the obtaining of the krill oil from the first liquid fraction, comprises separating the first liquid fraction into a krill oil enriched in neutral lipids and water. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The process of claim 10, wherein the separating of the first liquid fraction is conducted in a centrifuge separator. ### Claim 15 An organic solvent-free process for obtaining krill oil-containing compositions, comprising: a) cooking krill in a vessel for a time and at a temperature sufficient to denature the protein content of the krill and cause a first solid krill fraction being partially defatted and de-watered and a first liquid krill fraction to be formed while substantially avoiding emulsification of the first solid and first liquid krill fractions; b) removing the first solid and first liquid krill fractions from the cooker vessel at a temperature of at least about 90° C.; c) separating the first solid fraction and the first liquid fraction; d) squeezing the separated first solid fraction and obtaining a press liquid and a second solid portion therefrom: and e) centrifuging the press liquid obtained as a result of step d) to obtain an organic solvent free krill oil composition enriched in phospholipids. ### Claim 16 An organic solvent-free process for obtaining krill oil-containing compositions, comprising: a) cooking krill in a vessel for a time and at a temperature sufficient to denature the protein content of the krill and cause a first solid krill fraction being partially defatted and de-watered and a first liquid krill fraction to be foamed while substantially avoiding emulsification of the first solid and first liquid krill fractions; b) removing the first solid and first liquid krill fractions from the cooker vessel at a temperature of at least about 90° C.; c) separating the first solid fraction and the first liquid fraction; d) centrifuging the first liquid portion obtained as a result of step c) to obtain an organic solvent free krill oil composition enriched in neutral lipids and stick water and optionally removing the stick water therefrom. ### Claim 17 An organic solvent-free process for obtaining krill oil-containing compositions, comprising: a) cooking krill in a vessel for a time and at a temperature sufficient to denature the protein content of the krill and cause a first solid krill fraction being partially defatted and de-watered and a first liquid krill fraction to be formed while substantially avoiding emulsification of the first solid and first liquid krill fractions; b) removing the first solid and first liquid krill fractions from the cooker vessel at a temperature of at least about 90° C; c) separating the first solid fraction and the first liquid fraction; and d) squeezing the separated first solid fraction and obtaining a press liquid and a second solid portion therefrom; and e) and drying the press liquid obtained as a result of step d) to obtain an organic solvent free dried complex containing krill oil in combination with phospholipids, MHA, EPA, proteins, astaxanthin and neutral lipids. ### Claim 18 An organic solvent-free process for producing fish or algae extracts, comprising: a) cooking fish or algae or portions thereof in a cooker vessel for a time and at a temperature sufficient to denature the protein content of the fish or algae and cause a first solid fraction and a first liquid fraction to be formed while substantially avoiding emulsification of the first solid and first liquid fractions; b) removing the first solid and first liquid fractions from the cooker vessel at a temperature of at least about 90° C.; c) separating the first solid fraction and the first liquid fraction; and d) obtaining the fish or algae extract from either the first liquid fraction or the first solid fraction, said separating and said obtaining steps being carried out without the use of organic solvents.