Scaling-up processes: Patents and commercial applications

Abstract

There is currently a great demand for fish and seafood products. However, their high consumption produces large quantities of by-products that can be an ecological problem. That is why it is necessary to look for alternatives to revalue these products and give them a second life, thus reducing their environmental impact. In this sense, several investigations have been carried out in laboratories around the world to extract compounds from marine processing industry for the final high added-value products. Some of these compounds are collagen, omega 3 fatty acids, protein concentrates or chitin/chitosan, among others. Nevertheless, one of the critical steps for obtaining these compounds at the industrial level is the scale-up. Much of this research does not progress at the industrial level due to the complications of its large-scale research and use. However, the advances in technology entail that more research studies achieve to reach the industrial development phase. Once a product or process has been developed, it should be patented to protect its intellectual property. This chapter gives an overview of this entire process, showing some examples of patents or products from seafood by-products already marketed and providing some details of the corresponding legislation.

Keywords: Commercial applications; Patents; Scale-up processes; Seafood by-products.