Improved synthesis of 1,3-diolein by Novozym 435-mediated esterification of monoolein with oleic acid

We successfully developed an efficient and promising bioprocess for 1,3-diolein synthesis by performing Novozym 435-mediated esterification of oleic acid with monoolein in this work. Under the optimized conditions (60 °C, molar ratio of oleic acid to monoolein 1.2:1), a 1,3-diolein yield of 93.7% could be achieved, and the yield of 1,2-diolien was low (2.6%). The high yield of 1,3-diolein and the optimum reaction time were improved remarkably compared with the results of our previous study, which involved the enzymatic esterification of oleic acid with glycerol. An additional advantage of the new process is the fact that 90% original activity of the enzyme was maintained after being used for 100 reactions. The present work could be seen as a useful enzyme-catalyzed process for the industrial production of 1,3-diacylglycerol.

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► An alternative and efficient bioprocess for 1,3-diolein synthesis was developed.
► The diolein yield achieved 96.3% and the value of 1,3-diolien/diolein was 97.3%.
► 90% original activity of the enzyme was maintained after 100 cycles.