Preparation of diacylglycerol‐enriched palm olein by phospholipase A1‐catalyzed partial hydrolysis

Partial hydrolysis of palm olein catalyzed by phospholipase A₁ (Lecitase Ultra) in a solvent‐free system was carried out to produce diacylglycerol (DAG)‐enriched palm olein (DEPO). Four reaction parameters, namely, reaction time (2–10 h), water content (20–60 wt‐% of the oil mass), enzyme load (10–50 U/g of the oil mass), and reaction temperature (30–60 °C), were investigated. The optimal conditions for partial hydrolysis of palm olein catalyzed by Lecitase Ultra were obtained by an orthogonal experiment as follows: 45 °C reaction temperature, 44 wt‐% water content, 8 h reaction time, and an enzyme load of 34 U/g. The upper oil layer of the reaction mixture with an acid value of 54.26 ± 0.86 mg KOH/g was first molecularly distilled at 150 °C to yield a DEPO with 35.51 wt‐% of DAG. The DEPO was distilled again at 250 °C to obtain a DAG oil with 74.52 wt‐% of DAG. The composition of the acylglycerols of palm olein and the DEPO were analyzed and identified by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and HPLC/electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry. The released fatty acids from the partial hydrolysis of palm olein catalyzed by phospholipase A₁ showed a higher saturated fatty acid content than that of the raw material.