Research Article

Feasibility and quality constraints of solvent-free fish oil recovery from European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) by-products following a 48-hour cold storage delay

Volume: 43 Number: 4 August 31, 2026
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Feasibility and quality constraints of solvent-free fish oil recovery from European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) by-products following a 48-hour cold storage delay

Abstract

Industrial logistics and unavoidable processing delays frequently hinder the valorization of aquaculture by-products into high-value lipids. The current study evaluated the feasibility of a solvent-free centrifugal extraction technique for the recovery of fish oil from European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fillet by-products (head, skeleton, and internal organs), following a standard 48-hour cold storage delay typical in industrial processing. The by-products were homogenized with water at 50 °C and subsequently centrifuged at 4000 × g for 25 minutes. This solvent-free extraction technique yielded 8.12% free liquid oil, corresponding to a lipid recovery efficiency of 63.36%. Gas chromatography analysis demonstrated that the recovered oil contained substantial levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and total polyunsaturated fatty acids, representing a valuable nutritional profile. However, an accumulation of primary oxidation products was observed following the 48-hour pre-processing delay, with peroxide values exceeding permissible limits in both the solvent-free (27.99±3.99 meq O2/kg) and solvent-assisted (22.67±1.15 meq O2/kg) oils. Conversely, the free fatty acids (6.77±0.08% oleic acid) and p-anisidine value (4.29±0.26) remained within acceptable ranges. These findings demonstrate that while solvent-free centrifugation is effective for recovering PUFA-rich lipids, the inherently high pro-oxidant content of seabass by-products highlights the importance of immediate, on-site processing to prevent rapid oxidative degradation. Consequently, this study establishes critical logistical baselines for circular economy implementations in the seafood processing sector.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Ege University Scientific Research Projects Coordination

Project Number

Grant number: 30767

Ethical Statement

Ethics committee approval is not required since lifeless commercial fish by-products were used.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Waste Management, Reduction, Reuse and Recycling, Food Engineering, Post-Harvest Fisheries Technologies (Incl. Transportation)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

August 31, 2026

Submission Date

June 26, 2026

Acceptance Date

August 12, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 43 Number: 4

APA
Erdem, Ö. A., & Demirtaş Erol, N. (2026). Feasibility and quality constraints of solvent-free fish oil recovery from European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) by-products following a 48-hour cold storage delay. Ege Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 43(4), 341-350. https://doi.org/10.12714/egejfas.43.4.03
AMA
1.Erdem ÖA, Demirtaş Erol N. Feasibility and quality constraints of solvent-free fish oil recovery from European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) by-products following a 48-hour cold storage delay. EgeJFAS. 2026;43(4):341-350. doi:10.12714/egejfas.43.4.03
Chicago
Erdem, Ömer Alper, and Nida Demirtaş Erol. 2026. “Feasibility and Quality Constraints of Solvent-Free Fish Oil Recovery from European Seabass (Dicentrarchus Labrax) By-Products Following a 48-Hour Cold Storage Delay”. Ege Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 43 (4): 341-50. https://doi.org/10.12714/egejfas.43.4.03.
EndNote
Erdem ÖA, Demirtaş Erol N (August 1, 2026) Feasibility and quality constraints of solvent-free fish oil recovery from European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) by-products following a 48-hour cold storage delay. Ege Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 43 4 341–350.
IEEE
[1]Ö. A. Erdem and N. Demirtaş Erol, “Feasibility and quality constraints of solvent-free fish oil recovery from European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) by-products following a 48-hour cold storage delay”, EgeJFAS, vol. 43, no. 4, pp. 341–350, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.12714/egejfas.43.4.03.
ISNAD
Erdem, Ömer Alper - Demirtaş Erol, Nida. “Feasibility and Quality Constraints of Solvent-Free Fish Oil Recovery from European Seabass (Dicentrarchus Labrax) By-Products Following a 48-Hour Cold Storage Delay”. Ege Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 43/4 (August 1, 2026): 341-350. https://doi.org/10.12714/egejfas.43.4.03.
JAMA
1.Erdem ÖA, Demirtaş Erol N. Feasibility and quality constraints of solvent-free fish oil recovery from European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) by-products following a 48-hour cold storage delay. EgeJFAS. 2026;43:341–350.
MLA
Erdem, Ömer Alper, and Nida Demirtaş Erol. “Feasibility and Quality Constraints of Solvent-Free Fish Oil Recovery from European Seabass (Dicentrarchus Labrax) By-Products Following a 48-Hour Cold Storage Delay”. Ege Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, vol. 43, no. 4, Aug. 2026, pp. 341-50, doi:10.12714/egejfas.43.4.03.
Vancouver
1.Ömer Alper Erdem, Nida Demirtaş Erol. Feasibility and quality constraints of solvent-free fish oil recovery from European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) by-products following a 48-hour cold storage delay. EgeJFAS. 2026 Aug. 1;43(4):341-50. doi:10.12714/egejfas.43.4.03