Packed-Bed Reactor Running on Babassu Oil and Glycerol to Produce Monoglycerides by Enzymatic Route using Immobilized Burkholderia cepacia Lipase

Abstract

The aim of this study was the glycerolysis of babassu oil catalyzed by immobilized lipase from Burkholderia cepacia, in a continuous packed-bed reactor. The best reaction conditions were previously established in batchwise via response surface methodology as a function of glycerol-to-oil molar ratio and reaction temperature. The reactor operated continuously for 22 days at 50 degrees C, and during the first 6 days, no significant decrease on the initial lipase activity was observed. Monoglycerides concentration was in the range from 25 to 33 wt.%. Subsequently, a progressive decrease in the activity was detected, and an inactivation profile described by Arrhenius model estimated values of 50 days and 1.37 x 10(-2) h(-1) the half-life and deactivation coefficient, respectively.

<b>Strategies to inhibit the lipid oxidation in the enzymatic synthesis of monoglycerides by glycerolysis of Babassu oil</b> - doi: 10.4025/actascitechnol.v35i3.14187

“…MAG can be synthesized by different enzymatic pathways: selective hydrolysis of triglycerides, glycerolysis of triglycerides and direct esterification of glycerol with different fatty acids (FREITAS et al, 2008). However, due to its high yield and productivity, glycerolysis reactions seem to be more advantageous than the other reactions.…”

“…In addition, glycerolysis route has additional relevance in the present worldwide context, due to the sharp increase on the glycerol supplied in the market as a primary byproduct from biodiesel plants. Therefore, converting glycerol into value-added products provides an alternative for glycerol disposal and for its surplus problems (FREITAS et al, 2008;SILVA et al, 2009). …”

“…The monoglyceride syntheses were catalyzed by the Burkholderia cepacia lipase immobilized on SiO 2 -PVA hybrid particles. This lipase preparation was chosen due to promising results obtained using this biocatalyst as previously described (DA RÓS et al, 2010;FREITAS et al, 2009FREITAS et al, , 2010. The reason for using babassu oil is because of its low cost, composition rich in saturated fatty acids (about 90%), and not compete directly with the food chain (SUAREZ et al, 2009).…”

“…The immobilized systems had an average hydrolytic activity of 1,600  120 U g -1 and water level lower than 10%. The specific mass of the solid determined according to procedure described by Freitas et al (2010) General procedure of glycerolysis reactions in batch reactor…”

“…Reactions were carried out in cylindrical glass reactors (50 mL) containing glycerol and babassu oil, at molar ratio glycerol/babassu oil = 15, and the mixtures incubated with immobilized lipase on SiO 2 -PVA at proportion of 10% in relation to the total mass of reagents in the reaction medium (FREITAS et al, 2009). The antioxidant agents (BHT and tocopherol) and emulsifiers (soy lecithin and Triton X-100) were added in adequate amounts (30-100 ppm in relation to the total mass of substrate) at the beginning of the reactions.…”