Comparative Study of Sterol Ester Synthesis using Thermomyces Lanuginosus Lipase in Stirred Tank and Packed‐Bed Bioreactors

Abstract

AbstractA comparative study was done on the production of different sterol esters using a stirred tank batch reactor (STBR) and packed bed reactor (PBR) using Thermomyces lanuginosus (Lipozyme TLIM) enzyme, a commercially immobilized lipase. Different oils were used as the sources of particular fatty acids, e.g., fish oil for n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n‐3 PUFA), linseed oil for alpha linolenic acid (ALnA) and mustard oil for erucic acid. Reaction parameters, such as substrate molar ratio, reaction temperature and enzyme concentration, were standardized in the STBR and maintained in the PBR. To provide equal time of residence between the substrate and enzyme in both the reactors for the same amount of substrates, the substrate flow rate in the PBR was maintained at 0.27 ml/min. Thin layer chromatography was used to monitor the reaction, and column chromatography was used to determine the product yields. Fatty acid compositions of the esters were determined by gas chromatography. The study showed that the packed bed bioreactor was more efficient than the batch reactor in sterol‐ester synthesis with less migration of acyl groups.