Two-step enzymatic reaction for the synthesis of pure structured triacylglycerides

Structured triacylglycerides with medium-chain fatty acids (caprylic acid) in sn1- and sn3-positions and a long-chain unsaturated fatty acid (oleic or linoleic acid) in the sn2-position of glycerol (MLM) were synthesized by lipase catalysis in a two-step process. First, pure 2-monoacylglycerides (2-MG) were synthesized by alcoholysis of triacylglycerides (triolein, trilinolein, or peanut oil) in organic solvents with 1,3-regiospecific lipases (from Rhizomucor miehei, Rhizopus delemar, and Rhizopus javanicus). The 2-MG were purified by crystallization and obtained in up to 71.8% yield. These 2-MG were esterified in a second reaction with caprylic acid in n-hexane to form almost pure MLM. For 2-MG obtained from peanut oil, the final product contained more than 90% caprylic acid in the sn1- and sn3-positions, whereas the sn2-position was composed of 98.5% unsaturated long-chain fatty acids. Reaction conditions for both steps were optimized with respect to source and immobilization of lipase, water activity, and solvent.     

Esterification of glycerol with conjugated linoleic acid and long-chain fatty acids from fish oil

Free fatty acids from fish oil were prepared by saponification of menhaden oil. The resulting mixture of fatty acids contained ca. 15% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 10% docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), together with other saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Four commercial lipases (PS from Pseudomonas cepacia, G from Penicillium camemberti, L2 from Candida antarctica fraction B, and L9 from Mucor miehei) were tested for their ability to catalyze the esterification of glycerol with a mixture of free fatty acids derived from saponified menhaden oil, to which 20% (w/w) conjugated linoleic acid had been added. The mixtures were incubated at 40°C for 48h. The ultimate extent of the esterification reaction (60%) was similar for three of the four lipases studied. Lipase PS produced triacylglycerols at the fastest rate. Lipase G differed from the other three lipases in terms of effecting a much slower reaction rate. In addition, the rate of incorporation of omega-3 fatty acids when mediated by lipase G was slower than the rates of incorporation of other fatty acids present in the reaction mixture. With respect to fatty acid specificities, lipases PS and L9 showed appreciable discrimination against esterification of EPA and DHA, respectively, while lipase L2 exhibited similar activity for all fatty acids present in the reaction mixture. The positional distribution of the various fatty acids between the sn-1,3 and sn-2 positions on the glycerol backbone was also determined.     

Lipase-catalyzed modification of borage oil: Incorporation of capric and eicosapentaenoic acids to form structured lipids

Two immobilized lipases, nonspecific SP435 from Candida antarctica and sn-1,3 specific IM60 from Rhizomucor miehei, were used as biocatalysts for the restructuring of borage oil (Borago officinalis L.) to incorporate capric acid (10:0, medium-chain fatty acid) and eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) with the free fatty acids as acyl donors. Transesterification (acidolysis) reactions were carried out in hexane, and the products were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. The fatty acid profiles of the modified borage oil were different from that of unmodified borage oil. Higher incorporation of 20:5n-3 (10.2%) and 10:0 (26.3%) was obtained with IM60 lipase, compared to 8.8 and 15.5%, respectively, with SP435 lipase. However, SP435 lipase was able to incorporate both 10:0 and 20:5n-3 fatty acids at the sn-2 position, but the IM60 lipase did not. Solvents with log P values between 3.5 and 4.5 supported the acidolysis reaction better than those with log P values between −0.33 and 3.0.     

Analysis of low erucic acid turnip rapeseed oil (Brassica campestris) by negative ion chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry. A method giving information on the fatty acid composition in positionssn-2 andsn-1/3 of triacylglycerols

A tandem mass spectrometric method is described for the rapid analysis of fatty acid combinations in mixtures of triacylglycerols. Triacylglycerols were introduced into a triple quadrupole mass spectrometervia a direct exposure probe and deprotonated using ammonia negative ion chemical ionization. Collisionally activated spectra were obtained and the resulting fragments used to identify the fatty acid constituents, and the fatty acids preferentially located at thesn-2 position of the triacylglycerols. Fourteen major molecular weight species of purified triacylglycerols of a supercritical fluid extract of low erucic acid turnip rapeseed oil (Brassica campestris) were analyzed. The five major combinations of fatty acids comprised two thrids of the total triacylglycerols and contained oleic, linoleic and α-linolenic acids with linoleic acid favoring thesn-2 position.     

Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of chiral triglycerides

Under certain reaction conditions, the acidolysis of tripalmitin with oleic acid using immobilized lipase from Rhizomucor miehei resulted in a higher level of monosubstituted oleoyldipalmitoyl (OPP) triglycerides than had been predicted according to kinetic modeling. The reaction products were subjected to chiral analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), which indicated that the enzyme was more active at the sn-1 position of the triglyceride than at the sn-3 position, resulting in synthesis of the chiral triglyceride 1-oleoyl-2,3-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycerol. A kinetic model was developed and was correlated with the HPLC method to provide a simple means to predict the stereoselectivity of lipase-catalyzed reactions. By using the model, the stereoselectivity of immobilized Rhizomucor miehei lipase was found to depend strongly on the initial water activity (a _w) of the reaction mixture, with greater selectivity occurring at lower a _w. The sn-1 selectivity was essentially maintained using various solvents, or without solvent, when a _w was kept constantly low. Variation in the fatty acid composition of the triglyceride indicated that shorter-chain fatty acids result in greater stereoselectivity, while variation of the chainlength of the free fatty acid indicated an enhancement by the longest chainlength. The stereoselectivity of this lipase was confirmed using a new ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance method. By using immobilized R. miehei lipase at low a _w approximately 80% of the chiral triglyceride found in the reaction mixture was the sn-1 enantiomer, at high reaction conversion.     

Enzymatic Analysis of Positional Distribution of Fatty Acids in Solid Fat by 1,3-Selective Transesterification with Candida antarctica Lipase B

A protocol for the analysis of the positional distribution of fatty acids (FA) in solid triacylglycerols (TAG) was developed using sn-1(3) selective alcoholysis catalyzed by immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB). One part by weight of solid fat and ten parts by weight of ethanol (99.5 %) were warmed to liquefy the fat. After adding 0.44 parts by weight of CALB, the mixture was shaken at 50 °C for 10 min then at 30 °C for 2.8 h. The recovery of 2-MAG after the 3-h transesterification reaction was ca. 85 % of the maximum theoretical yield (33 mol%), with the loss of 15 % attributable to the acyl migration from sn-2 to sn-1(3). The recovery was similar to that of the solvent-free alcoholysis of structured lipids, 1,3-dipalmitoyl, 2-oleoyl glycerol and 1,3-dioleoyl, 2-palmitoyl glycerol, conducted at 30 °C for 3 h. In contrast, the acyl migration from sn-1(3) to sn-2 was hardly observed. Because the detected acyl migration was only in the direction of sn-2 to sn-1(3), and not vice versa, it is proposed to determine the FA composition of the sn-2 position of TAG by the gas chromatographic analysis of 2-MAG fraction recovered from the enzymatic reaction mixture, and the FA composition of sn-1(3) position by a mass balance using the FA composition of TAG and of the sn-2 position as inputs. The procedure was successfully applied to palm oil and shea butter, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich single cell oil from Aurantiochytrium sp. KH105 for the first time.     

Interesterification of Lard and Soybean Oil Blends Catalyzed by Immobilized Lipase in a Continuous Packed Bed Reactor

Structured lipids (SL), formulated by blends of lard and soybean oil in different ratios, were subjected to continuous enzymatic interesterification catalyzed by an immobilized lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus (Lipozyme TL IM) in a continuous packed bed reactor. The original and interesterified blends were examined for fatty acid and triacylglycerol composition, regiospecific distribution, and solid fat content. Blends of lard and soybean oil in the proportions 80:20 and 70:30 (w/w), respectively, demonstrated a fatty acid composition, and proportions of polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acids (PUFA/SFA) and monounsaturated/polyunsaturated fatty acids (MUFA/PUFA), that are appropriate for the formulation of pediatric products. These same blends were suited for this purpose after interesterification because their sn-2 positions were occupied by saturated fatty acids (52.5 and 45.4%, respectively), while unsaturated fatty acids predominantly occupied sn-1,3 positions, akin to human milk fat. Interesterification caused rearrangement of triacylglycerol species.     

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 lipase ofPseudomonas cepacia catalyzed virtually complete hydrolysis of the oil (94–97%), while that ofGeotrichum candidum discriminated strongly against erucic acid, especially in esterification. A two-step process is suggested for obtaining a highly enriched erucic acid in which theG. candidum lipase is employed to selectively esterify the fatty acid residues of unsaturated C-18, and shorter chain acids, from a mixture of HEARO fatty acids obtained from total hydrolysis of the oil withP. cepacia lipase.     

Optimization of the reaction conditions in the lipase-catalyzed synthesis of structured triglycerides

Structured triglycerides of the ABA-type, containing one type of fatty acid (A) in the sn-1 and sn-3 positions and a second type of fatty acid (B) in the sn-2 position of the glycerol, were synthesized using lipases. The highest yields and purities were achieved in a two-step process, where a triglyceride of the B-type was subjected to an alcoholysis reaction in an organic solvent catalyzed by sn-1,3-regiospecific lipases yielding the corresponding 2-monoglyceride (2-MG). Using this strategy, e.g., 2-monopalmitin (2-MP) was obtained in up to 88% yield at >95% purity by crystallization. Esterification of 2-MP with oleic acid resulted in the formation of 1,3-oleyl-2-palmitoyl-glycerol in up to 72% yield containing 94% palmitic acid in the sn-2 position. The best lipases were from Rhizomucor miehei, Rhizopus delemar, and Rhizopus javanicus. Water activity, solvent, and carrier for lipase immobilization strongly influenced the yield and purity of the products in both steps. Furthermore, 2-MG from fish oil were produced by alcoholysis in up to 84% yield at >95% purity.     

Use of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizopus delemar</Emphasis> lipase as compared with other lipases for determination of <Emphasis Type="Italic">sn</Emphasis>-2 fatty acids in triacylglycerol

The FA composition in the sn-2 position of TAG is routinely determined after porcine pancreatic lipase hydrolysis. However, the content of saturated FA increased when a pancreatic lipase preparation with higher specific activity was used. Lipase from Rhizopus delemar was selected as a potential replacement lipase for the following reasons: (i) The FA specificity is nearly equivalent in hydrolysis activity toward FA such as lauric, myristic, palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and α-linolenic acids; and (ii) lipase from R. delemar hydrolyzes fatty acyl residues at the sn-1,3 positions of TAG. Acyl migration products were present at less than 0.8% in lipase hydrolysates containing 6–14% of sn-2 MAG. A reproducibility CV of less than 5% was obtained in a collaborative study in which the compositions of the main FA at the sn-2 position in olive oil were determined using lipase from R. delemar. This article was presented in part at the Biocatalysis Symposium, 94th AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo, Kansas City, Missouri, May 2003.     

Enrichment of salmon oil with n‐3 PUFA by lipolysis,filtration and enzymatic re‐esterification

Selective enzymatic hydrolysis of salmon oil extracted without solvent from by‐products was carried out under mild conditions, using a stereospecific sn‐1, sn‐3 lipase Novozyme^®. A modification of the lipid class composition was obtained by controlling the degree of hydrolysis (40%, 24 h). The mixture of acylglycerols and free fatty acids was submitted to a filtration step to retain in the retentate most of the saturated fatty acids, with melting peaks ranging from ‐31.9 °C to +14.7 °C obtained by differential scanning calorimetry. This step allowed a significant increase of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from 39.2 mol‐% in the crude oil to 43.3% in the permeate. The remaining free fatty acids in the permeate (20.2 wt‐%) was re‐esterified with an immobilized 1, 3‐specific lipase IM60. Acylglycerols synthesis reached 90% in optimized conditions. After 48 h of reaction, the distribution of monoacylglycerols, diacylglycerols and triacylglycerols was 22.1, 28.7, 43.4 (w/w), respectively. The re‐esterification step did not modify the PUFA content obtained after membrane filtration.     

Comparison of the oxidative stability of chemically and enzymatically interesterified fats

A mixture of low erucic acid rapeseed (LEAR) oil and tallow (6:4, w/w) was used for enzymatic interesterification using Lipozyme IM – a sn-1,3-specific lipase of Rhizomucor miehei, or for chemical interesterification using sodium methoxide. The starting mixture and the products of interesterification were separated by column chromatography into pure triacylglycerols (TAGs) and a non-TAG fraction containing free fatty acids, mono- and diacylglycerols. Subsequently, the starting mixture, the products of chemical and enzymatic interesterification and the pure triacylglycerols were oxidized and their oxidative stability was examined by means of DSC. The investigation showed that the pure triacylglycerols isolated from the product of enzymatic interesterification have a comparable oxidative stability to that of the TAGs prepared from the starting mixture. In contrast, the TAGs obtained from the products of chemical interesterification had inferior oxidative stability. The presence of non-TAG fraction in the interesterification products lowers their resistance to oxidation. The starting mixture had the highest oxidative stability.     

In vitro hydrolysis of natural and synthetic γ-linolenic acid-containing triacylglycerols by pancreatic lipase

The present study compared thein vitro hydrolysis of two 18:3n-6-rich oils—evening primrose oil (EPO) and borage oil (BO)—and different synthetic 18:3n-6-containing triacylglycerols (TG). Incubation of EPO and BO with pancreatic lipase lipolyzed 18:3n-6 from the TG species. The rate of lipolysis of TG species containing two or three molecules of 18:3n-6, which comprised 36% of total 18:3n-6 in BO and only 7% in EPO, was significantly slower than those containing only one molecule of 18:3n-6. This was found especially in those with two molecules of linoleic acid, which constituted 20% of total 18:3n-6 in BO, whereas over 80% were present in EPO. In a separate study, various synthetic 18:3n-6-containing TG were also subjected toin vitro hydrolysis by pancreatic lipase. Results showed that release of 18:3n-6 from thesn-1/sn-3 positions was significantly slower when two other stereospecific positions in the same TG molecule were occupied by either palmitic acid (16:0) or monounsaturated (18:1 and 20:1) fatty acids than when occupied by 18:2n-6. The rate of hydrolysis ofsn-2-γ-linolenyl-sn-1(3)-diacylglycerol to formsn-2-mono-γ-linolenyl glycerol was also significantly slower when both thesn-1 andsn-3 positions in TG molecules were occupied by either saturated fatty acids (16:0 and 18:0) or long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids than when occupied by 18:2n-6. These findings suggest that the stereospecific position of 18:3n-6 in TG molecules and the constituent of its neighboring fatty acids modulated availability of 18:3n-6 from 18:3n-6-containing TG or 18:3n-6-rich oils.     

Enzymatic incorporation of docosahexaenoic acid into borage oil

Lipase-catalyzed acidolysis of acylglycerols of borage (Borago officinalis L.) oil with a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentrate, prepared from algal oil, in organic solvents was studied. Seven lipases were used as biocatalysts for the acidolysis reaction. Novozyme 435 from Candida antarctica, as compared to lipases from Mucor miehei and Pseudomonas sp., showed the highest degree of DHA incorporation into borage oil. Other lipases tested, such as those from Aspergillus niger, C. rugosa, Thermomyces lanuginousus and Achromobacter lunatus, were rather ineffective in the incorporation of DHA into borage oil. Effects of variation of reaction parameters, namely, enzyme load, temperature, time course, and type of solvent, were monitored for C. antarctica as the biocatalyst of choice. Incorporation of DHA increased with increasing amount of enzyme, reaching 27.4% at an enzyme concentration of 150 lipase activity units. As incubation time progressed, DHA incorporation also increased. After a reaction time of 24 h, the contents of total n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in acylglycerols were 44.0 and 27.6%, respectively. The highest degree of DHA incorporation was achieved when hexane was used as the reaction medium. The positional distribution of DHA in modified borage oil was determined using pancreatic lipase hydrolysis. Results showed that DHA was randomly distributed over the sn-1, sn-2, and sn-3 positions of the triacylglycerol. Thus, preparation of modified borage oil acylglycerols containing both DHA (22:6n-3; 27.4%) and γ-linolenic acid (18:3n-6; 17.0%) was successfully achieved and products so obtained may have beneficial effects beyond simple physical mixtures of the two oils. The final oil had a ratio of n-3 to n-6 of 0.42–0.62 which is nutritionally more suitable than the original unaltered borage oil.     

Enzymatic production of fatty acid alkyl esters with a lipase preparation from Candida sp. 99‐125

A lipase preparation developed from Candida sp. 99‐125 was used for fatty acid alkyl ester synthesis by both enzymatic esterification of fatty acids, and transesterification of oils and fats. The lipase preparation was chosen based on screening of lipases from commercial sources as well as those produced in the laboratory. The effects of enzyme dosage, solvent types, water absorbent additions, inhibition of short‐chain alcohols, alcohol and acid types, molar ratio of substrates, and reusability of the lipase preparation in esterification were studied. Degree of esterification between oleic acid and methanol under optimal conditions reached 92%. Purity of the methyl ester after washing with water and distillation was 98%. Half‐life of the lipase preparation was calculated to be approximately 340 h. For transesterification of rapeseed oil with the same lipase preparation, the amount of methanol and mode of methanol addition to the reaction were also conducted. Transesterification of the oil with stepwise methanol addition reached 83% after 36 h reaction time.     

<Superscript>13</Superscript>C-NMR Regioisomeric Analysis of EPA and DHA in Fish Oil Derived Triacylglycerol Concentrates

The regio-isomeric distribution of the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and cis-4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the triacylglycerols (TAG) of anchovy/sardine fish oil was determined by ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis under quantitative conditions. From the measurements of sn-1,3 and sn-2 carbonyl peak areas it was established that EPA was mainly located in the sn-1,3 positions, whereas DHA primarily occupied the sn-2 position. Reconstituted TAG prepared by Candida antarctica lipase-B (CALB) glycerolysis of the ethyl ester (EE) or the free fatty acid (FFA) forms of anchovy/sardine fish oil, displayed a different pattern: EPA was equally distributed, while DHA was preferentially attached to the sn-1,3 positions. TAG concentrates of varying EPA and DHA molar fractions were prepared by CALB-catalyzed glycerolysis of the corresponding EE and FFA. ¹³C-NMR analysis of the purified products revealed a lack of CALB regioselectivity for EPA and a slight sn-1,3 regioselectivity for DHA. Since this pattern was observed in all cases of this study, it was concluded that the lipase regioselectivity during TAG synthesis is independent of both the acyl donor type (carboxylic acid or ester) and the fatty acid content of the oil substrate.     

Triacylglycerols and regiospecific fatty acid analyses of philippine seed oils

Three Philippine seed oils, namely coconut (Cocos nucifera Linn.), pilinut (Canarium ovatum Engl.), and cashew (Anacardium occidentale Linn.), which were selected for their local abundance and availability, were examined for their triacylglycerol profiles and fatty acid compositions. Triacylglycerol molecular species in terms of carbon number and partition number were determined by gas chromatography and liquid chromatography, respectively. The distribution of fatty acids in the primary and secondary positions of the glycerol backbones for the three oils were examined by regiospecific analysis by using pancreatic lipase. Coconut oil had high concentrations of lauric and myristic acids, while the other two oils did not have such fatty acids. Lauric acid in coconut oil and linoleic acid in pilinut oil were distributed mainly in the primary positions (sn-1,3) of the glycerol backbone. Trilaurin and dioleylpalmitoylglycerol were the major triglycerides in coconut and pilinut oils, respectively.     

Minor component fatty acids of common vegetable oils

A combination of gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) and oxidative cleavage on fractions isolated by mercury derivative chromatography has shown the presence of previously unreported minor component fatty acids in olive, soybean, cottonseed, corn, peanut, rapeseed and safflower oil. All of the oils examined contain small amt of saturated acids above arachidic, some as high as hexacosanoic acid.Cis-11-octadecenoic acid was found in amt ranging from 0.5~2.0%.Cis-11-eicosenoic acid is present in the 0.04~1.4% range (rapeseed oil excluded). The tetracosenoic acid present in rapeseed (0.4%) and safflower oil (0.1%) has been identified as thecis-15-tetracosenoic acid. No unusual polyenoic species were detected with the exception of those in rapeseed oil, which contains 0.6% of both 11,14-eicosadienoic and 13,16-docosadienoic acid.     

Triacylglycerol composition and structure in genetically modified sunflower and soybean oils

Changes in composition were examined in oils extracted from genetically modified sunflower and soybean seeds. Improvements were made to the analytical methods to accomplish these analyses successfully. Triacylglycerols (TAG) were separated on two 300 mm × 3.9 mm 4μ Novapak C18 high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) columns and detected with a Varex MKIII evaporative light-scattering detector. Peaks were identified by coelution with known standards or by determining fatty acid composition of eluted TAG by capillary gas chromatography (GC). Stereospecific analysis (fatty acid position) was accomplished by partially hydrolyzing TAG with ethyl magnesium bromide and immediately derivatizing the resulting diacylglycerols (DAG) with (S)-(+)-1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl isocyanate. The derivatized sn-1,2-DAG were completely resolved from the sn-2,3-DAG on two 25 mm × 4.6 mm 3 μ silica HPLC columns. The columns were chilled to −20°C to obtain baseline resolution of collected peaks. The distribution of fatty acids on each position of the glycerol backbone was derived from the fatty acid compositions of the two DAG groups and the unhydrolyzed oil. Results for the sn-2 position were verified by hydrolyzing oils with porcine pancreatic lipase, isolating the resulting sn-2 monoacylglycerols by TLC, and determining the fatty acid compositions by GC. Results demonstrated that alterations in the total fatty acid composition of these seed oils are determined by the concentration of TAG species that contain at least one of the modified acyl groups. As expected, no differences were found in TAG with fatty acid quantities unaffected by the specific mutation. In lieu of direct metabolic or enzymatic assay evidence, the authors’ positional data are nevertheless consistent with TAG biosynthesis in these lines being driven by the mass action of available acyl groups and not by altered specificity of the acyltransferases, the compounds responsible for incorporating fatty acids into TAG.     

Production of structured triacylglycerols in an immobilised lipase packed‐bed reactor: batch mode operation

Structured triacylglycerols with caprylic acid at the sn‐1 and sn‐3 positions of the glycerol backbone and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) at the position sn‐2 were synthesised by acidolysis of a commercially available EPA‐rich oil (EPAX4510, Pronova Biocare) and caprylic acid catalysed by the 1,3‐specific immobilised lipase Lipozyme IM. The reaction was carried out in an immobilised lipase packed‐bed reactor by recirculating the reaction mixture through the bed. The exchange equilibrium constants between caprylic acid and the native fatty acids of EPAX4510 were determined. The n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), EPA and docosohexaenoic acid (DHA), were the most easily displaced by the caprylic acid. The exchange equilibrium constants were 3.68 and 3.06 for EPA and DHA, respectively. The influence of the flow rate of the reaction mixture through the packed‐bed and the substrate concentration in the reaction rate were studied. For flow rates between 74 and 196 cm³ h^?1 (bed of 6.6 mm internal diameter and 0.46 porosity) and triacylglycerol concentrations between 0.036 and 0.108 M , the data fitted well to an empirical kinetic model which allowed representative values of the apparent kinetic constant to be obtained. Hence, the average reaction rates and kinetic constants of exchange of caprylic acid and native fatty acids of EPAX4510 could be calculated. In the conditions indicated, the parameter (lipase mass × time/triacylglycerol mass, m_Lt/V[TG]₀) constituted the intensive variable of the process for use in predicting the composition of structured triacylglycerols at different reaction times. At equilibrium, the structured triacylglycerol produced had the following composition: caprylic acid 59.5%, EPA 9.6%, DHA 2.2% and oleic acid 11.8%. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry