Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Fish-processing discards represent an abundant source of proteins that can be valorized through appropriate extraction strategies. In this work, the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium propionate ([C₂mim][OPr]) and its aqueous solutions were evaluated as media for protein extraction from yellowfin tuna ( Thunnus albacares ) skin and fin discards. The results show that the composition of the ionic liquid system affects the properties of the recovered proteins. For skin-derived extracts, the pure [C₂mim][OPr] provided the highest extraction yield, protein content, and soluble protein fraction, while aqueous ionic liquid systems yielded extracts with distinct molecular-weight distributions. FTIR, SDS-PAGE, GPC-SEC, amino acid, thermal, and rheological analyses showed that extraction conditions mainly affected the molecular and functional properties of the recovered proteins, whereas amino acid composition and thermal stability remained essentially unchanged. Fin- and skin-derived extracts exhibited markedly different molecular and rheological characteristics. Comparison with the previously reported [C₂mim][OAc] showed differences in the properties of the recovered proteins when using different anions. These results highlight ionic liquid systems as versatile extraction media for producing protein fractions with distinct characteristics from fish-processing discards.
Language: English
Subfield: Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,060
OpenAlex ID: W7214740163