Abstract: An efficient and simple process to obtain a concentrate that includes over 80% in weight of ethyl esters of ?-3 fatty acids based on a composition of matter that contains esters of ?-3 fatty acids or free ?-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 ?-3 fatty acids; d) heat the mixture of stage c) between 50 to 150° C.

Abstract: An efficient and simple process to obtain a concentrate that includes over 80% in weight of ethyl esters of ?-3 fatty acids based on a composition of matter that contains esters of ?-3 fatty acids or free ?-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 ?-3 fatty acids; d) heat the mixture of stage c) between 50 to 150° C.