Abstract
Different strategies to avoid the lipid feedstock oxidation in the enzymatic synthesis of monoglycerides (MAG) from glycerolysis of babassu oil were tested. The reactions were catalyzed by Burkholderia cepacia lipase immobilized on SiO2-PVA and the tests carried out in batchwise. The best strategy was tested in a continuous packed-bed reactor. Different antioxidants and emulsifiers were used, including: Buthyl-hydroxy-toluene (BHT), tocopherol, soy lecithin and Triton X-100. The influence of inert atmosphere (N2) on the MAG production was also investigated. Results were compared with those attaining in the control reaction. The best performance was obtained using N2 in the reaction medium, preventing the oxidation of babassu oil. MAG concentrations were 60 and 24% in batch and continuous mode, respectively. Among the tested antioxidant and emulsifying agents, only soy lecithin was found to be efficient but its application showed limit performance to be used in continuous runs.
Highlights
Monoglycerides (MAG) are nonionic surfactants, widely used in pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries, for not having side effects when ingested, or skin irritation, unlike ionic surfactants
This study aimed to test different strategies to inhibit the oxidation of babassu oil in the enzymatic synthesis of monoglycerides, carried out in batch wise to apply the best condition in a continuous operating system
Different glycerolysis reactions were performed, such as: i) without any device to prevent the oxidation of the feedstock (Control); ii) with inert atmosphere; and iii) using different antioxidants and emulsifying agents, aiming to study their influence on the monoglycerides synthesis from babassu oil
Summary
Monoglycerides (MAG) are nonionic surfactants, widely used in pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries, for not having side effects when ingested, or skin irritation, unlike ionic surfactants. MAG can be synthesized by different enzymatic pathways: selective hydrolysis of triglycerides, glycerolysis of triglycerides and direct esterification of glycerol with different fatty acids (FREITAS et al, 2008). Due to its high yield and productivity, glycerolysis reactions seem to be more advantageous than the other reactions. Technology important fatty acids (DAMSTRUP et al, 2006). Glycerolysis route has additional relevance in the present worldwide context, due to the sharp increase on the glycerol supplied in the market as a primary byproduct from biodiesel plants. Converting glycerol into value-added products provides an alternative for glycerol disposal and for its surplus problems (FREITAS et al, 2008; SILVA et al, 2009)
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