Glyceride Production from High Free Fatty Acid Rice Bran Oil using Immobilized Lipase

Abstract

Reactions of glycerol and high free fatty acid (FFA) rice bran oil were carried out with lipase immobilized on an anion exchange carrier. The esterification activity of the reactions was estimated by decrease in acid values. This activity was high when the water content of the reaction mixture was 13 %. The relationship between water content in the reaction mixture and esterification activity depended on the lipase sources and the carriers on which the lipase was immobilized. Transesterification activity was estimated by successive analysis of glyceride components in the reaction products. The yield of monoglyceride was good when both the esterification activity and transesterification were made to work in parallel. The high FFA oil used contained 35 % free fatty acid and the reaction product contained 7 15 % FFA and 30.35 % monoglyceride. The methods for controlling water content in the process of glyceride production by lipase based on differences in boiling temperatures and reactions in a triphasic system are discussed.