Production of structured lipids by enzymatic transesterification of soybean oil and palm kernel oil in a packed-bed reactor

Abstract

Enzymatic synthesis of structured lipids by transesterification of soybean oil with palm kernel oil was evaluated in a packed-bed reactor with a capacity for 500g of enzyme loading. Lipozyme RM-IM was used as catalyst. Substrate blends were passed through the enzyme bed at different flow rates. Transesterification reached a level of 19.6 %, with a maximum calculated productivity of 2344 kg of transesterified oil/kg of immobilized enzyme, a flow rate of 9,36 kg oil/kg enzyme/h. The triacylglycerols formed in major proportion were C40:2, C42:2, C42:3, C44:2, C44:3, C50:3 and C50:4. Stereoespecific analysis of the fat before and after transesterification shows a slight migration of acyl groups. The products obtained by this technology can be applied in the formulation of lipid emulsions for enteral and parenteral nutrition and the food industry.

Keywords

• lipase
• lipozyme
• packed-bed reactor
• rm-im
• structured lipids