FRACTIONATION OF FATTY-ACIDS AND OTHER LIPIDS VIA LIPASE-CATALYZED REACTIONS

Lipases (triacylglycerol acylhydrolases, EC 3.1.1.3) from various orga nisms have been used as biocatalysts for modification of fats and othe r lipids via hydrolysis, esterification and interesterification [1-4]. lipases are rather expensive, therefore lipase-catalyzed reactions ar e economically attractive mainly for the manufacture of products of go od commercial value. One such area is the preparation of added value p roducts, such as purified fatty acids and lipids, from inexpensive oil s and fats via kinetic resolution in lipase-catalyzed reactions.