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Abstract

An efficient and simple process to obtain a concentrate that includes over 80% in weight of ethyl esters of ω-3 fatty acids based on a composition of matter that contains esters of ω-3 fatty acids or free ω-3 fatty acids that comprises the stages of:

a) contacting the composition of matter with ethanol of at least 96% in weight and a hydroxide of an alkali metal at a temperature between 60 and 200° C. to form a liquid mixture that includes alkaline salts of fatty acids;b) cool the liquid mixture to a temperature between 50 and −20° C. to form a solid phase and a liquid phase and separate the liquid phase from the solid phase;c) contact the separated liquid phase of stage b) with an acid to form an acidified mixture with a water content under 10%, where the mixture consists of a solid phase that includes the alkali metal salt of the acid and a liquid phase that comprises ω-3 fatty acids;d) heat the mixture of stage c) between 50 to 150° C. in the presence of an esterification catalyst to form a mixture that includes ethyl esters of ω-3 fatty acids;e) contact the mixture of stage d) with an alkali to form a neutralized mixture;f) distill the neutralized mixture to obtain a distillate that includes over 80% in weight of ethyl esters of ω-3 fatty acids.

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