Nisshin Seifun Group has been granted a patent for a method of producing an EPA alkyl ester-containing composition. The method involves preparing a raw material oil with specific ratios of EPA and DHA alkyl esters, bringing it into contact with an aqueous solution containing a silver salt, recovering the solution, and then bringing it into contact with an organic solvent. The resulting composition contains at least 96% EPA alkyl ester and has a low ratio of trans isomers. GlobalData’s report on Nisshin Seifun Group gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Nisshin Seifun Group, water gas shift catalysts was a key innovation area identified from patents. Nisshin Seifun Group's grant share as of September 2023 was 28%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11767491B2) discloses a method for producing a composition comprising an eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) alkyl ester. The method involves several steps. First, a raw material oil is prepared, which contains 50 to 92% by mass of EPA alkyl ester in the total fatty acids. The raw material oil should have a low mass ratio of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) alkyl ester to EPA alkyl ester (3.3% by mass or less) and a low ratio of trans isomers in the EPA alkyl ester (2% by mass or less).
Next, the raw material oil is brought into contact with an aqueous solution containing a silver salt. The aqueous solution is then recovered and brought into contact with an organic solvent. The organic solvent is subsequently recovered, resulting in the production of a composition comprising EPA alkyl ester. The composition should contain at least 96% by mass of EPA alkyl ester in the total fatty acids and have a low ratio of trans isomers in the EPA alkyl ester (1.5% by mass or less).
The patent also includes additional claims and variations of the method. For example, the raw material oil can contain 60 to 85% by mass of EPA alkyl ester in the total fatty acids. It can also contain 2% by mass or less of DHA alkyl ester. Furthermore, the raw material oil may include other fatty acid esters, such as arachidonic acid alkyl ester and eicosatetraenoic acid alkyl ester, at a total content of 26% by mass or less with respect to 100% by mass of the EPA alkyl ester.
The method can also involve an additional step where the recovered aqueous solution is brought into further contact with an aqueous solution containing a silver salt. The temperature of the aqueous solution used in the process can range from 5 to 30°C when brought into contact with the raw material oil, and from 30 to 80°C when brought into contact with the organic solvent.
Overall, this patent provides a method for efficiently producing a composition rich in EPA alkyl ester, which is an important component in various applications such as pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements. The method ensures high purity of EPA alkyl ester and low levels of undesirable components like trans isomers.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
