HIGH-YIELD PRODUCTION OF MONO-OLEYLGLYCEROL AND DI-OLEYLGLYCEROL BY LIPASE-CATALYZED HYDROLYSIS OF TRIOLEIN

Lipases from several origins-in soluble form or immobilized on solid s upports of different aquaphilicity-have been used for the production o f mono- and di-oleylglycerol by hydrolysis of sis of triolein. The por cine pancreatic lipase adsorbed on Celite was Sound to be the most eff ective biocatalyst tested. High activity and excellent selectivity tow ard the formation of intermediate acylglycerols were achieved (the con version to diolein plus monoolein was 79% after 5 h of reaction). The time course of triolein hydrolysis with free and immobilized lipases w as analyzed using a sequential kinetic model, and the apparent first-o rder rate constants were calculated The differences found in the rate constants were related to differences in the regioselectivity of the e nzymes and/or the aquaphilicity of the supports.