USE OF CONTINUOUS-CULTURE TO SCREEN FOR LIPASE-PRODUCING MICROORGANISMS AND INTERESTERIFICATION OF BUTTER FAT BY LIPASE ISOLATES

The continuous cultivation technique was used to investigate the scree ning for lipase-producing microorganisms from four commercial starters suitable for the degradation of domestic wastes. Using this technique , three strains of lipase-producing bacteria were isolated and identif ied: Pantoea agglomerans (BB96CC1, BB168CC2) and Pseudomonas fluoresce ns (BW96CC1). In addition, butter fat induced more lipase production w hen present in the growth medium. Interesterification of butter fat tr iacylglycerols by enzymatic extracts of the isolated strains of microo rganisms resulted in an appreciable Interesterification yield. implyin g that hydrolysis was suppressed and interesterification of butter fat triacylglycerols was maximized in a microemulsion free-cosurfactant s ystem.