Biotechnology and oleochemicals: Changing patterns

Abstract

AbstractBiotechnology will have a broad impact on the oleochemicals industry. Only a narrow range of this interface is discussed: (a) the use of organic solvents in the enzymatic synthesis of lipid derivatives, (b) the effect of the chemical nature of the feedstock on the production of microbial monoesters, and (c) temperature as a determinant of the level of unsaturation in biosynthetic lipids. Interest in running enzymatic reactions in high concentrations of organic solvents is increasing. The implications of such processes for the oleochemical industry is illustrated by examples of ester synthesis and interesterification of oils and fats. The dramatic effect of feedstock chemistry on the final monoester product mix produced byAcinetobacter sp. HO1‐N is also discussed. Products resulting from usingn‐alkanes (C16−C20), acetic and propionic acids and, most recently, ethanol and propanol, are illustrated. They range from a monoester mix resembling sperm oil to one similar to jojoba oil. In general, temperature inversely affects biolipid unsaturation: the low the temperature, the greater the unsaturation. The major function of this response is to preserve fluidity and function in biological membranes. The effect is universal in nature, occurring in animals, plants and microorganisms. Controlled laboratory studies have supported these observations made in nature. We have investigated the effect of temperature on the unsaturation of monoesters produced by the bacterium,Acimetobacter sp. HO1‐N. The inverse relationship between temperature and unsaturation is clearly shown. The enzymatic basis for these results and the possibility of chemical or genetic modification of plants and microorganisms to produce more or less unsaturated lipids is briefly discussed. Organic solvents, feedstock chemistry and temperature stress in biocatalysis are but three of the variables at the interface of biotechnology and the oleochemicals industry that will cause changing patterns.