Insight in mechanisms to unlock omega-3 fatty acids from microalgae.

Microalgal biomass is a rich source of nutritionally interesting components such as ω-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acids (ω-3-PUFA). Important health benefits are related to these components, but their current average intake is below the recommended level. This raises interest in food enrichment. ω-3-PUFA from microalgal origin can be added to food preparations in the form of extracted oil, or as whole biomass. In order to enhance extractability and bioaccessibility of ω-3-PUFA, insight is required in techniques which can unlock ω-3-PUFA from the cellular matrix. The aim of this project is to study the potential of processing techniques (high pressure homogenisation, ultrasonication and pulsed electric field processing) and cell wall degrading enzymes for unlocking ω-3-PUFA from microalgae.

Keywords:Cell wall degrading enzymes, Extractability, Processing, Bioaccessibility

Disciplines:Food sciences and (bio)technology