Conversion of Triolein Into Mono- and Diacylglycerols by Immobilized Lipase

Monoacylglycerols (MAGs) and diacylglycerols (DAGs) are used as emulsifiers in industrialized foods, cosmetics and drugs. This paper deals with the hydrolysis of an oil-in-water emulsion of technical triolein, catalyzed by an immobilized sn-1,3 specific lipase (Lipozyme RM IM) from Rhizomucor miehei. The reaction was carried out in a batch-type reactor at varying temperatures and reaction times. The experimental approach employed a response surface methodology based on a \(2^{2}\) full factorial design to evaluate the formation of MAGs/DAGs, free fatty acids (FFAs) and residual triolein. Results were evaluated by thin-layer chromatography and also validated using the acidity method and HPSEC. The chosen reaction parameters yielded adequate formation of both acylglycerols, FFAs and triolein consumption, exhibiting best results for MAGs/DAGs formation under intermediate conditions of temperature/time (\(50\,^{\circ }\hbox {C/1.6\,h}\) and \(60\,^{\circ }\hbox {C/2\,h}\)). Monoolein and diolein fractions were in the ranges 19.2–21.4 and 37.6–40.2%, respectively. These results indicate the efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis throughout the reaction steps.