H. Konishi et al., CHEMICAL INTERESTERIFICATION WITH REGIOSELECTIVITY FOR EDIBLE OILS, Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society, 70(4), 1993, pp. 411-415
Chemical interesterification reaction conditions that provide regiosel
ectivity regarding fatty acid positions in triacylglycerol have been i
nvestigated. Sodium meth oxide-catalyzed ester interchange between soy
bean oil and methyl stearate was performed in hexane at low reaction t
emperature, i.e., 30 to 60-degrees-C. The results showed regioselectiv
ity was obtained at 30-degrees-C. The ester interchange at 1,3-carbons
progressed 1.7 times faster than at 2-carbon of the glycerol moiety o
f triacylglycerol at 24 h. Preheating of the mixture of reactant and c
atalyst at 60-degrees-C for 15 min promoted catalyst activation to acc
elerate the interesterification while maintaining regioselectivity. Th
is method is believed to be feasible for modification of edible fats a
nd oils.