Fish-processing generates substantial viscera waste that is often discarded or sold at negligible prices, representing both an environmental burden and a missed economic opportunity. This study demonstrates the sustainable valorization of Catla catla viscera through green solvent extraction and urea complexation to obtain polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-rich fractions. Among extraction methods, the autoclave-assisted approach gave the highest lipid yield (16 ± 0.7%), while the classical Bligh TGF-β1 increased to 571.52 pg/mL) at 50% concentration. A preliminary economic estimation suggests that valorization of viscera into PUFA-rich lipids may substantially enhance value compared with raw disposal, although detailed techno-economic analysis and pilot-scale validation are required to confirm feasibility. This dual demonstration of bioactivity and valorization potential highlights viscera-derived lipids as promising nutraceutical and biomedical resources.
Reddy et al. (Fri,) studied this question.