FRACTIONATION OF FATTY-ACIDS AND OTHER LIPIDS VIA LIPASE-CATALYZED REACTIONS

Lipases (triacylglycerol acylhydrolases, EC 3.1.1.3) from various organisms have been used as biocatalysts for modification of fats and other lipids via hydrolysis, esterification and interesterification [1-4]. lipases are rather expensive, therefore lipase-catalyzed reactions are economically attractive mainly for the manufacture of products of good commercial value. One such area is the preparation of added value products, such as purified fatty acids and lipids, from inexpensive oils and fats via kinetic resolution in lipase-catalyzed reactions.