Optimized synthesis of 1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoylglycerol-rich triacylglycerol via interesterification catalyzed by a lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus

1,3-Dioleoyl-2-palmitoylglycerol (OPO)-rich human milk fat substitute (HMFS) was synthesized from tripalmitin-rich fraction and ethyl oleate by a lipase-catalyzed interesterification. Response surface methodology was employed to optimize its OPO content and acyl migration with reaction factors – substrate mole ratio of PPP-rich fraction to ethyl oleate (1:4, 1:5 and 1:6), reaction temperature (50, 55 and 60°C) and time (3, 7.5 and 12 hours). The predictive models for OPO content and acyl migration were adequate and reproducible. The OPO content increased with substrate ratio, and decreased with reaction time and temperature, whereas acyl migration increased with temperature and time. The optimal conditions for HMFS synthesis while maximizing OPO content (31.43% OPO) and minimizing acyl migration (6.07%) were predicted at the reaction combination of 50°C, three hours and 5.5 substrate ratio. HMFS was resynthesized under the same condition, and no significant difference between the observed and predicted values was found. Further, the major fatty acid of HMFS was palmitic acid (80.6%) at sn-2 position, and oleic acid (64.9%) at sn-1,3 position.