FATTY-ACID SELECTIVITY OF LIPASES - ERUCIC-ACID FROM RAPESEED OIL

The fatty acid selectivity of several commercial lipases was evaluated in the hydrolysis of high-erucic acid rapeseed oil (HEARO). The lipas e of Pseudomonas cepacia catalyzed virtually complete hydrolysis of th e oil (94-97%), while that, of Geotrichum candidum discriminated stron gly against erucic acid, especially in esterification. A two-step proc ess is suggested for obtaining a highly enriched erucic acid in which the G. candidum lipase is employed to selectively esterify the fatty a cid residues of unsaturated C-18, and shorter chain acids, from a mixt ure of HEARO fatty acids obtained from total hydrolysis of the oil wit h P. cepacia lipase.