Monoacylglycerols production from palm olein by lipase in continuous stirred tank with an in-line separation column</A>

Monoacylglycerols production from palm olein by lipase in continuous stirred tank with an in-line separation column

Wiphum Kaewthong, M.Sc. Student in Biotech., PSU.
Poonsuk Prasertsan, Assoc. Prof., D. of Industrial Biotech., F. of Agro-Industry, PSU.
Aran H-Kittikun, Asst. Prof., D. of Industrial Biotech., F. of Agro-Industry, PSU.
Corresponding e-mail : haran@ratree.psu.ac.th

Grant : TRF, Graduate School, PSU.
Presented : The 12th Annual Meeting of the Thai Society for Biotechnology "Biotechnology : Impacts & Trends" Kanchanaburi, Thailand, 1-3 Novermber, 2000
Key words : monoacylglycerol, lipase, continuous stirred tank reactor

Generally, monoacylglycerol (MAG) production usin glycerolysis of fats and oils in the liquid phase yield approximately 30 wt%MAG, due to an unfavored equilibrium. A substantial shift of the equilibrium in the glycerolysis can be achieved by performing the reaction in a solid-phase system. However, it is difficult to perform in a continuous manner. To circumvent this problem, a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) with an in-line separation column was investigated. From five commer- cial lipases, lipase PS gave the highest yield of MAG with 19.07% in the glycerolysis of palm olein with glycerol at 30^oC for 180 min. Furthermore, among organic solvents tested for MAG separation, n-hexane was found to be suitable. MAG production was performed in the CSTR (working volume 100 ml) by glycerolysis of palm olein with glycerol using lipase PS 13,300 units at 35^oC. The sub- strate mixture containing glycerol and palm olein (2.7 molar ratio) was introduced into the CSTR with the feed rate of 0.02 ml/min and product was passed into an in-line separation column (Ć3.2x 35 cm) filled with n-hexane. Most MAG was solidify in the column while the glycerol and enzyme were settle down. This glycerol and enzyme were recycled into the CSTR with the flow rate of 0.64 ml/min. When using this process the yield of MAG was approximately 36 wt% and a purity of 85% was obtained. However, further development is necessary.

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