Kinetics and specificity of Lipozyme-catalysed oil hydrolysis in supercritical CO2

Blackcurrant seed oil is rich in linoleic and linolenic acids. Selective enzyme-catalysed oil hydrolysis was studied with aim to obtain different levels of α- and/or γ-linolenic acid in the mixture of liberated fatty acids and in the fraction of di- and monoacylglycerols, making them suitable for special dietary needs. The oil was dissolved in supercritical carbon dioxide flowing through a packed bed reactor (temperature 40 °C, pressure 15–28 MPa, and superficial velocity 0.1–0.7 mm s−1) with Lipozyme®, a 1,3-specific lipase from Mucor miehei immobilised on a macroporous ion-exchange resin. The enzyme activity was stable as long as water precipitation in the reactor was prevented. The reaction was found to be controlled by both Michaelis–Menten kinetics and mass transfer. The maximum rate of fatty acids liberation per unit amount of enzyme, 2.6 × 10−3 mol s−1 kg−1, was achieved at the maximum flow velocity and pressure. Compared to oil, the liberated fatty acids contained more α-linolenic, palmitic and stearic acids, while di- and monoacylglycerols contained increased levels of γ-linolenic and stearidonic acids.