Mechanistic insight into the relationship between triacylglycerol and crystallization of lipase-catalyzed interesterified blend of palm stearin and vegetable oil

To give a deep insight into the relationship between triacylglycerol and crystallization of interesterified fat, the blends of palm stearin and various vegetable oil were catalyzed by two different immobilized lipases in this study. After interesterification, the blends had wider plastic range indicated by the SFC results and more β′ crystal. The improved physicochemical characteristics of interesterified blends were attributed to their changed TAG profiles. The statistical analysis showed that the interesterified blends were more likely to form β′ crystal with the increase of SU2-type TAG content and the decrease of SSS-type TAG content (p < 0.01). In addition, the decrease of ECN 42- and ECN 48-type TAGs and the increase of ECN 50-type TAGs also significantly enhanced the formation of β′ crystal (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the sn-1,3-specific Lipozyme TL IM-catalyzed interesterified blends were favorable for the formation of β′ crystal than the non-specific Novozym 435-catalyzed interesterified blends.