Hydrolytic Activity of Castor Bean Powder: Effect of Gum Arabic,Lipase and Oil Concentrations

Lipase activity from castor bean seed powders was evaluated in hydrolysis reactions at 37 °C. The effects of different concentrations of lipase powder (LP), substrate (high oleic sunflower oil, O) and surfactant (gum arabic, A) on lipase activity (R) were assessed using experimental designs. Considered variable bounds were: 0.05–0.15 g_LP, 0.07–0.20 oil:aqueous phase (w/w) and 0–0.025 g gum arabic/mL. All variables had significant effects on the transformed response, R ^1/2. The most important result was the negative effect of gum arabic in lipase activity, even when high oil concentrations were used. Experimental lipase activities involved in this work were within 0.32–16.90 mmol_FFA/g_oil·g_LP·h. Using 0.05 g_LP and 0.20 oil:aqueous phase (w/w) without gum arabic, the activity of 20.47 ± 7.19 mmol_FFA/g_oil·g_LP·h was reached.