Optimization of the synthesis of lower glycerides rich in unsaturated fatty acid residues obtained via enzymatic ethanolysis of sesame oil

The lipases Novozym 435, Lipozyme TL IM and Lipozyme RM IM were employed in the production of lower acylglycerols (LG), i.e. mono‐ (MAG) and diacylglycerols (DAG), rich in unsaturated fatty acids from sesame oil in batch reactors. The effect of the molar ratio of ethanol to fatty acids on the reusability of these immobilized lipases was studied in detail. The effects of pretreatment on lipase activity for ethanolysis were investigated. Glycerol had a strong product inhibition effect on the ethanolysis reaction, and a relatively large excess of ethanol was necessary to remove the glycerol adsorbed on these biocatalysts. The enzymatic activity was drastically reduced by addition of water to the reaction medium. The presence of organic solvents (hexane and acetone) did not favor the production of LG. For the Novozym 435‐catalyzed reaction, optimum conditions were a molar ratio of ethanol to fatty acid residues of 5 : 1, 15 wt‐% lipase and 50 °C. For Lipozyme TL IM, the optimum conditions were a molar ratio of ethanol to fatty acid residues of 5 : 1, 20 wt‐% biocatalyst, and 30 °C. Novozym 435 and Lipozyme TL IM produced LG with molar ratios of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids of 20.4 in 1 h and 25.3 in 5 h, respectively. In the original oil, this ratio was 5. For trials conducted under optimum conditions, the products from the Novozym 435 trials contained 21.8 wt‐% triacylglycerols (TAG), 24 wt‐% DAG and 54.2 wt‐% MAG. The products of the Lipozyme TL IM trials consisted of 12.9 wt‐% DAG and 87.1 wt‐% MAG. No TAG species were detected.