EXTRACTION OF LIPID AND ASTAXANTHIN FROM BLACK TIGER SHRIMP SHELLS (Penaeus monodon) USING DEEP EUTECTIC SOLVENT AND ETHANOL

Abstract

The shells of black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) are often discarded during processing, yet they constitute a significant byproduct in the seafood industry, especially in countries such as Vietnam. These shells are rich in valuable bioactive compounds, including lipids and astaxanthin, but their rigid and complex cell wall structure presents challenges for extraction. This study examined the potential of a deep eutectic solvent (DES) system, composed of choline chloride (ChCl) and citric acid (CA), for extracting lipids and astaxanthin from the shrimp shells. While DES demonstrated lower extraction efficiency for both lipid and astaxanthin compared to traditional solvents such as hexane and ethanol, the efficiency improved significantly when ethanol was used as a co-solvent. The combination of ChCl/CA with 45% ethanol achieved the highest lipid (5.71 g/100 g) and astaxanthin concentration (34.15 µg/g), outperforming ethanol alone (5.12 g/100 g and 31.56 µg/g) and hexane (5.62 g/100 g and 33.47 µg/g). The resulting extracts were rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, including linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, EPA, and DHA, as well as astaxanthin, exhibiting potent antioxidant properties. These results indicate that the DES system, particularly with the addition of ethanol, is a promising and efficient alternative for extracting valuable bioactive compounds from shrimp shells.