Lipase Catalyzed Incorporation of Conjugated Linoleic Acid by Transesterification into Sunflower Oil Applying Immobilized Lipase (Lipozyme Thermomyces lanuginosus and Rhizomucor mehei)

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), Glycerol (G) and sunflower oil blends with varying concentration were subjected to enzymatic esterification using a 1, 3-specific immobilized lipase. CLA was used as acyl due to its purported health benefits. The transesterified lipids were evaluated for free fatty acids (FFA) and composition of fatty acids by gas chromatography. Lipozyme Rhizomucor mehei immoblized (RM IM) is preferred for enzymatic esterification because of more CLA incorporation and less free fatty acids at the end of reaction than Lipozyme Thermomyces lanuginosus (TL) IM. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to determine the effects of three variables Glycerol concentration, reaction temperature, and amount of enzyme on the lipase catalyzed incorporation of CLA into Sunflower oil. The optimum condition for maximum CLA incorporation (96.7% Incorporation Yield), maximum reaction rate (0.0271 M/h) and minimum free fatty acids production (Acid No.2.73) was obtained, at 75 degrees C by using 3 % enzyme and 0.27 M glycerol.