LIPASE-CATALYZED INCORPORATION OF N-3 POLYUNSATURATED FATTY-ACIDS INTO VEGETABLE-OILS

The ability of immobilized lipases IM60 from Mucor miehei and SP435 fr om Candida antarctica to modify the fatty acid composition of selected vegetable oils by incorporation of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in to the vegetable oils was studied. The transesterification was carried out in organic solvent with free acid and ethyl esters of eicosapenta enoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as acyl donors. With f ree EPA as acyl donor, IM60 gave higher incorporation of EPA than SP43 5. However, when ethyl esters of EPA and DHA were the acyl donors, SP4 35 gave higher incorporation of EPA and DHA than IM60. When IM60 and f ree acid were used, the addition of 5 mu L water increased EPA incorpo ration into soybean oil by 4.9%. With ethyl ester of EPA as acyl donor , addition of 2 mu L water increased EPA incorporation by 3.9%. For SP 435, addition of water up to 2 mu L resulted in increased EPA incorpor ation, but the incorporation declined when the added water exceeded th is amount. The addition of water increased the EPA incorporation into Trisum 90 after 24 h reaction but not the reaction rate at early stage s of the reaction.