Acidity reduction in animal fats by enzymatic esterification: economic and environmental analysis

This study examines the economic potential of reducing animal fats acidity by enzymatic esterification and evaluates the carbon and water footprints. Two enzymes scenarios were considered based on experimental data. Results show that operational costs are larger than income generated. To be economic viable, the maximum enzyme cost to process fish oil and mammalian fat should be respectively 9.75 €/kg and 1.0 €/kg. Alternatively, for the fish oil acidity reduction to be cost-effective, its sales price should be increased about 3 %. This new process carbon footprint is 602 ton CO2-eq/year and the water footprint is 261073 m3 water/year.