Continuous synthesis of glycerides by lipase in a microporous membrane bioreactor

Authors:
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A membrane bioreactor was developed for continuous synthesis of glycerides by lipase to overcome the drawbacks associated with the usual operation in an emulsion system. One unit (total area: 726 cm2) of flat, plate‐type dialyzer was used as the membrane bioreactor at 40 C. The glycerol solution, containing bacterial lipase and water, was supplied continuously to 1 side of a sheet of microporous polypropylene membrane (strongly hydrophobic) and the effluent was recycled, while undiluted liquid fatty acid (oleic or linoleic) was fed continuously to the opposite side of the membrane and came in contact with a glycerol‐water‐lipase solution to cause the reaction. The product, glycerides, was obtained at the outlet, in a pure state, with no other phase. Highest conversion (ca. 90%) was obtained when the water content of the glycerol solution was 3–4%. As the accumulation of water produced by the reaction lowered the conversion, molecular sieves in a column that the glycerol solution passed through were used for optimal water content. The reaction could be continued at least for 1 month, yielding a conversion above 70% when 1% CaCl2 was added in the glycerol solution. The main component of glycerides formed was almost equimolar amounts of mono‐and diglycerides.

This publication has 12 references indexed in Scilit: