LIPASE-CATALYZED HYDROLYSIS OF TRIGLYCERIDES FROM NEW OIL CROPS FOR OLEOCHEMICAL INDUSTRIES

Abstract

The use of Rhizopus delemar lipase to specifically and mildly isolate industrially interesting fatty acids from new agricultural oil seed crops was evaluated. R. delemar-mediated hydrolysis of Crambe and Dimorphotheca oils was studied in an emulsion system at room temperature. Crambe oil hydrolysis was also studied using lipase, immobilized in a two-phase hollow-fiber membrane bioreactor. Progress of the hydrolysis was monitored by GLC analysis. Allowing the reaction to proceed in an oil - water emulsion gave a high yield of erucic acid when using Crambe oil, and dimorphecolic acid when using Dimorphothecaoil. R. delemar-mediated hydrolysis of Crambe oil in a membrane bioreactor also yielded high proportions of erucic acid, albeit at a lower apparentrate. It is concluded that lipases with 1,3-positional specificity can be used to produce high concentrations of specialty fatty acids from novel vegetable oils and that immobilization of these lipases in membrane bioreactors allows re-use of the enzyme, thus potentially increasing cost-effectiveness of the reaction.