Lipase-catalysed acylglycerol synthesis of glycerol and n − 3 PUFA from tuna oil: Optimisation of process parameters

Enzymatic synthesis of acylglycerols from glycerol and n − 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids concentrates, prepared from tuna oil, was optimised by response surface methodology. Acylglycerol synthesis was performed using Lipozyme Novo 435 under different reaction conditions according to the experiment design. Five factors were chosen to optimise the process parameters of lipase-catalysed synthesis. The results indicated that the esterification degree was above 90% under the following conditions: glycerol – 2.5 g, hexane – 5 ml, the initial water content – 0.60%, temperature – 40 °C, and molecular sieves – 1 g. The product was a bright orange and transparent liquid, with no fishlike smell and high mobility. The contents of DHA and EPA were 73.4% and 13.5%, respectively. The reaction product was composed of monoacylglycerols, diacylglycerols and triacylglycerols, the contents of which were 12.1%, 56.1% and 31.3%, respectively.