Flowable concentrated phospholipid krill oil composition

Abstract

The present invention is related to methods of making crustacean oil compositions. In particular, the crustacean oil compositions are krill oil compositions. In some embodiments, the krill oil compositions are concentrated in phospholipids. These concentrated phospholipid krill oil compositions have a sufficient flowability to permit successful encapsulation at phospholipid concentrations that is currently unattainable in the art. Such phospholipid krill oil compositions are capable of encapsulation even though they may have a phospholipid concentration ranging between approximately 60%-99% and a viscosity ranging between 100,000-3,000,000 cP. Such concentrated phospholipid krill oil compositions may be created using a small molecule organic solvent/water extraction mixture and/or sub-critical or super-critical fluid extraction at low temperatures followed by a drying process to remove water and organic solvent (e.g., for example, ethanol).

1 .- 64 . (canceled) 
     
     
         65 . A semi-solid krill oil comprising a phospholipid content of approximately 61.7% (w/w), a water content of approximately 1.9% (w/w) and an ethanol content of approximately 0.8%, wherein said semi-solid krill oil is at a temperature of at least 40° C. 
     
     
         66 . The krill oil of  claim 65 , wherein said krill oil further comprises a viscosity of approximately 140,000 cP. 
     
     
         67 . The krill oil of  claim 65 , wherein said phospholipid content comprising phosphatidylcholine of approximately 47% (w/w), alkyl acyl phosphatidylcholine of approximately 4.5% (w/w), phosphatidylinositol in a range of approximately 0.75% (w/w), phosphatidylserine (PS) in a range of approximately 0.5%, lysophosphatidylcholine in a range of approximately 2.9%, lyso alkyl acyl phosphatidylcholine of approximately 0.65%, phosphatidylethanolamine of approximately 2.8%, alkyl acyl phosphatidylethanolamine of approximately 0.75%, cardiolipin+N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine of approximately 1.5%, lysophosphatidylethanolamine of approximately 0.35%, and lyso alkyl acyl phosphatidylethanolamine of <0.1%. 
     
     
         68 . The krill oil of  claim 65 , wherein the krill oil comprises a fatty acid content of approximately 42.9% (w/w). 
     
     
         69 . The krill oil of  claim 65 , wherein the krill oil comprises an astaxanthin content of approximately 40.5 mg/100 g. 
     
     
         70 . The krill oil of  claim 65 , wherein the krill oil comprises a trimethylamine (TMA) content of approximately 8 mg/100 g. 
     
     
         71 . The krill oil of  claim 65 , wherein the krill oil comprises a trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) content of approximately 1174 mg/100 g. 
     
     
         72 . The krill oil of  claim 65 , wherein said krill oil is a gently dried krill oil. 
     
     
         73 . The krill oil of  claim 72 , wherein said gently dried krill oil is a lyophilized krill oil.