Development of Commercially Viable Method of Conjugated Linoleic Acid Synthesis Using Linoleic Acid Fraction Obtained from Pork By-products

The purpose of this study was to develop a commercially viable method for synthesis of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) using the linoleic acid fraction obtained from six pork by-products (liver, lung, heart, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine). The workflow of CLA synthesis from each by-product was as follows: washing→crude fat extraction→fractionation into saturated and unsaturated fatty acids→repeat unsaturated fatty acid fractionation→CLA synthesis. Cis-9, trans-11, and trans-10, cis-12 CLA was synthesized from pork by-products. The yield of CLA synthesis of pork by-products ranged from 1.55 to 11.18 g per 100 g of by-products. The amount of synthesized CLA was the highest in the small intestine and large intestine by-products. Fractionation of pork by-products nearly doubled the yield of CLA. We suggest that commercial fractionation methods could increase the yield of CLA at low cost, reduce waste, and improve the efficiency of by-product utilization.