Optimization of omega-3 enriched-diacylglycerol production by enzymatic esterification using a response surface methodology

Incorporation of an eicosapentaenoic acid/docosahexaenoic acid (EPA/DHA) moiety into diacylglycerol (DAG) oil using lipase-catalyzed esterification was optimized using an ethyl ester form of EPA/DHA. A response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize reaction parameters (time, temperature, and substrate mole ratio) for incorporation of DHA and EPA into DAG oil. Predictive models for DHA+EPA contents of DAG and the amount of DAG produced after esterification were adequate and reproducible. DHA+EPA contents of DAG significantly increased with reaction time and substrate mole ratio (p<0.05). In contrast, the reaction temperature negatively affected the amount of DAG after esterification. Synthesis of DHA+EPA-enriched DAG was optimized for a maximum DAG content with the highest DHA+EPA content, in which 630.0 mg of DAG containing 34.8% DHA and EPA was predicted using the RSM model. The optimal reaction conditions were predicted at 20.6 h, 57.9 and a DHA/EPAenriched ethyl ester: DAG oil ratio of 2.5:1.