HYDROLYSIS OF OLIVE OIL WITH LIPASE IN A VIBROMIXER

Hydrolysis of olive oil in i-octane with Candida cylindracea lipase in aqueous solution was performed in a VibroMixer reactor. The kinetic d ata were interpreted by the interfacial reaction model, whose rate was controlled by the desorption of the product as shown in a previous st udy of the Lewis-type transfer cell. The desorption rate constant of t he product and the equilibrium constant of the reaction between lipase and olive oil were evaluated using the adsorption parameters of lipas e. The desorption rate constant was 1.3 x 10(3) mol/m(2)h, which was a bout 3 x 10(3) times greater than that observed in the Lewis cell. The desorption rate was suspected to be facilitated by the repeated dispe rsion and coalescence of the oil phase. The equilibrium constant of th e interfacial reaction was nearly of the same order as that obtained i n the Lewis cell.