Screening and selection of lipases for the enzymatic production of polyglycerol polyricinoleate

We have demonstrated, for the first time, that polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) can be synthesized using lipases as biocatalyst with very good results. Of the twenty-one lipases screened for their ability to catalyse PGPR production from a mixture of polyricinoleic acid and polyglycerol-3, only twelve lipases were able to catalyse the reaction. All of them were from microbial sources (bacteria and fungi) and were 1,3-specific or “random” lipases. The selection procedure was based not only on the enzymatic activity but also on economic criteria. Lipases from Mucor javanicus, Rhizopus arrhizus and Rhizopus oryzae were finally chosen, and all three enzymes were successfully immobilized by adsorption onto an anion exchange resin where they showed their suitability to catalyse the synthesis of PGPR. This represents a promising starting point for developing an industrial process for the green production of polyglycerol polyricinoleate.