Role of oleic acid solubilized in buffer—glycerol solution on adsorbed lipase during continuous hydrolysis of olive oil in a microporous hydrophobic membrane bioreactor

Abstract

The cause of the superiority of the countercurrent flow mode of reactions over the cocurrent one during continuous hydrolysis of olive oil in a microporous hydrophobic membrane bioreactor was investigated. Outlet buffer-glycerol solution (BGS) contained an unknown compound which was extracted and identified as oleic acid, the major (84%) component of olive oil hydrolysis which diffused across the membrane and solubilized in the BGS. The estimated content of oleic acid in the outlet BGS of the countercurrent mode was significantly higher and was more homogeneously distributed (in the BGS compartment) than that of cocurrent one, which affected the adsorbed lipase resulting in higher hydrolysis rate at the same flow rate of olive oil.