THE ISOLATION AND RECOVERY OF FATTY-ACIDS WITH DELTA-5 UNSATURATION FROM MEADOWFOAM OIL BY LIPASE-CATALYZED HYDROLYSIS AND ESTERIFICATION

This report examines the use of lipases for isolating fatty acids with DELTA5 unsaturation from the seed oil of Limnanthes alba, or meadowfoam. Seven lipase types and three enzyme configurations (immobilized, ''free'' and reverse-micellar encapsulated) were examined. All lipases discriminated against DELTA5 acids to varying degrees, but the degree of discrimination was independent of enzyme configuration. Lipase-catalyzed esterification of meadowfoam oil's free fatty acids was much more successful for isolating DELTA5 acyl groups than was lipolysis. For example, esterification directed by Chromobacterium viscosum lipase yielded a free fatty acid product containing >95% of the DELTA5 acyl groups at >99% purity.