Production of specific structured lipids by enzymatic interesterification: optimization of the reaction by response surface design

Rapeseed oil and capric acid were interesterified in solvent-free media catalyzed by Lipozyme IM from Rhizomucor miehei to produce specific-structured lipids (SSLs). The process was optimized by response surface design concerning the effects of acyl migration and the byproducts of diacylglycerols (DAGs). A five-factor response surface design was used to evaluate the influences of five major factors and their relationships. The five factors were water content (W_c, wt-% based on enzyme used), reaction temperature (T_e, °C), enzyme load (E_l, wt-% based on substrates), reaction time (T_r, h) and substrate ratio (S_r, rapeseed oil/capric acid, mol/mol), varied at three levels together with two star point levels. The net incorporation Δ(I_f–M_f), in which I_f represents incorporation (1,3-positions) and M_f acyl migration (2-position), and the contents of DAGs were analyzed and calculated. All parameters had strong influence on the net incorporation, and the experimental and predicted values were close. The best fitting quadratic model was determined by regression and backward elimination. The coefficients of determination (R²) of the models were 0.971 for net incorporation and 0.938 for DAG content. Thus, we conclude that the quadratic response models adequately expressed the reaction. Based on the models, the reaction was optimized for the maximum net incorporation and minimum DAG content. The reaction and the control of water content or water activity (Aw) was also discussed.