Synthesis of diglyceride containing caprylic acid by immobilized lipase catalyzed esterification of monoglyceride in a solvent free system

For the production of diglyceride (DG) containing medium chain fatty acid, which could be utilized as a substrate to structured lipid production, monoglyceride (MG) and caprylic acid were reacted in the presence of lipase. The reaction system was well mixed homogeneously without using any organic solvent. Among the lipases investigated, Lipozyme RM IM and Novozym 435 were selected on the basis of equilibrium DG yields from the medium chain fatty acid and MG. And reaction conditions such as addition of molecular sieve, water content of immobilized lipase, reaction temperature, and mole ratio of MG/caprylic acid are optimized to increase DG production by using Lipozyme RM IM. DG content of reaction mixture showed 8% increase by adding molecular sieve to reaction mixture. Removal of water from the immobilized lipase could affect seriously equilibrium content of DG. More than 2.8%(w/w) removal of water from the support could make 44% of DG. Optimum temperature was found to 600C. Temperature shift from 600C to 25°C resulted in increase of free fatty acid (FFA) content. The equilibrium DG yield was not seriously affected by on MG/caprylic acid molar ratio. However, at the stoichiometric ratio of 1:1 the highest DG yield was obtained. Increasing MG/caprylic acid ratio from 0.3 to 1.8 decreased FFA content from 34% to 13%, while MG content increased from 27% to 50%.