The aim of the “NutraFert” project is the complete recovery of wastes of fish and oilseed as extracts and hydrolysates for microencapsulation, the final product being used as fertilizer or nutraceuticals. The main objective of the project is to design experimental models to obtain PUFA microencapsulated used as nutraceuticals and essential oils microencapsulated used as fertilizers using ultrasonic fields.

In relation to the state of the art aforementioned, the approach is original and innovative by:

• Development of an integrated process for complete recovery of wastes of fish and oilseed using advanced techniques for the extraction process, like microwaves and ultrasounds, followed by cutting-edge separation methods such as molecular distillation or supercritical extraction in order to obtain fractions with a higher content on PUFA.
• Modeling and optimization of the extraction and separation process using first principles based or statistical models.
• Development of the microencapsulation process in ultrasonic field, using optimized experimental conditions.

O1. Development of an integrated process for the complex recovery of fish and oilseeds wastes using advanced techniques. Establishing the best extraction conditions.

O2. Development of a separation process of fatty acid ethyl esters fractions using modern techniques.

O3. Modeling and optimization of the separation process.

O4. Development of the experimental model for obtaining of PUFA microencapsulated used as nutraceuticals and essential oils microencapsulated used as fertilizers.

WP1. Development of an original process for the complex recovery of fish and oilseeds wastes using advanced techniques

The WP1 aim was to develop an original process for the complex recovery of fish waste and oilseeds using advanced extraction techniques. Within the 5 activities, experimental laboratory researches were carried out regarding the extraction of oils and the obtaining of protein hydrolysates from fish waste and oilseeds using advanced extraction techniques. Both the lipid fractions and the protein hydrolysates obtained were analytically characterized (GC-MS, HPLC, etc.).

The dissemination of the research results was achieved by creating a web page, submitting for publication a scientific article to an ISI-rated specialized journal and by participating with a paper at an international conference.

WP2. Development of a separation process of fatty acid ethyl esters fractions using modern techniques

The WP2 aim was to develop a process of separation of ethyl ester fractions of fatty acids using modern separation techniques. Within the 6 activities were carried out thus, the modeling and optimization of the process of extraction of vegetable oils; experimental laboratory research on the process of transesterification of fish oils and vegetable oils; experimental laboratory research on the separation of fractions of ethyl esters of fatty acids using modern separation techniques followed by the qualitative and quantitative determination of the ethyl esters of fatty acids obtained using standard methods of analysis (GC-MS) and last but not least, it was aimed at developing mathematical models regarding the optimization of the separation process for obtaining the ethyl esters of polyunsaturated fatty acids.

WP3. Development of the experimental models to obtain PUFA microencapsulated used as nutraceuticals and essential oils microencapsulated used as fertilizers

The WP3 aim was to develop the experimental models for obtaining PUFA microcapsules used as nutraceuticals and microcapsulated essential oils used as fertilizers. During the activities, an experimental model was developed for obtaining PUFA microcapsules used as nutraceuticals using modern intensification techniques and an experimental model was developed for obtaining microcapsulated essential oils used as fertilizers. Both activities were followed by the physico-chemical characterization of the obtained microcapsules. Dissemination of research results was achieved by updating the

project website, publishing a scientific article in an ISI-listed journal, publishing an article in an BDI-rated journal, submitting for publication a scientific article to a listed journal ISI and by participating with a paper at an international conference.

Project Director: Dr. ing. Cristina Emanuela ENĂȘCUȚĂ

Email:

Phone number: 021 316 3086