Lipase-mediated transesterification of menhaden oil with the ethyl ester of conjugated linoleic acid: multi-response kinetics

A 23 factorial design with a central point was utilized to develop a multi-response model of the kinetics of the transesterification reaction between menhaden oil and the ethyl ester of conjugated linoleic acid in the presence of an immobilized lipase from Rhizomucor miehei (Lipozyme L9). The factors considered were the molar ratio of reactants, the enzyme loading, and temperature. Rate expressions were developed to describe both the release of the individual fatty acid residues present in menhaden oil and the incorporation of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) residues in acylglycerol species. These mathematical models were of the general Michaelis-Menten form characteristic of a ping-pong bi-bi mechanism.