Lipase-catalyzed incorporation of different Fatty acids into tripalmitin-enriched triacylglycerols: effect of reaction parameters

Tripalmitin-enriched triacylglycerols were concentrated from palm stearin by acetone fractionation and as the substrate reacted with a mixture of equimolar quantities of fatty acids (C8:0-C18:3). The incorporation degree and acyl migration level of the fatty acids and acylglycerols composition were investigated, providing helpful information for the production of human milk fat substitutes. Higher incorporation degrees of the fatty acids were obtained with lipase PS IM, Lipozyme TL IM, and Lipozyme RM IM followed by porcine pancreatic lipase and Novozym 435-catalyzed acidolysis. During reactions catalyzed by Lipozyme TL IM, Lipozyme RM IM, and lipase PS IM, incorporation degrees of C12:0, C14:0, C18:1, and C18:2 were higher than those of other fatty acids at operated variables (molar ratio, temperature, and time), and the triacylglycerols content reached the highest (82.09%) via Lipozyme RM IM-catalyzed acidolysis. On the basis of significantly different levels of acyl migration to the sn-2 position, lipases were in the order of lipase PS IM < Lipozyme TL IM < Lipozyme RM IM.