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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Crop Improvement and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #334779
Title: Lipase catalyzed methanolysis of tri-(12-hydroxy stearoyl)-glycerol in organic solvents

Author
item KANG, SUNG-TAE - Seoul Technical University
item McKeon, Thomas

Submitted to: Advances in Enzyme Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/23/2016
Publication Date: 12/28/2016
Citation: Kang, S., McKeon, T.A. 2016. Lipase catalyzed methanolysis of tri-(12-hydroxy stearoyl)-glycerol in organic solvents. Advances in Enzyme Research. 4(4):152-157. doi: 10.4236/aer.2016.44014.

Interpretive Summary: Castor oil and related derivatives are used in numerous industrial applications and products. Such products include emulsifiers which help to combine components that are usually not soluble, e.g. in oil and vinegar salad dressing. Lipases are enzymes that break down oils like castor oil, often to fatty acids and glycerol. This study uses lipase in organic solvents to slow down lipase reactions and allow isolation of mono- and di-acylglycerols that are more useful in production of emulsifiers for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food uses. This research provides the potential for higher-value products derived from vegetable and seed oils, especially castor oil.

Technical Abstract: Castor oil is the source of numerous products and is the only commercial source of the fatty acid ricinoleate, 12-hydroxy-oleate. Hydrogenated castor oil is similarly useful as the source of 12-hydroxy-stearic acid, best known as a component of lithium grease. Mono- and diacylglycerols derived from castor oil and are useful in development of lubricants and emulsifiers for cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food use. Acylglycerols derived from hydrogenated castor oil may be similarly useful, albeit with different physical and chemical properties. We have evaluated the use of immobilized lipases to generate acylglycerols, using organic solvents to modulate the action of lipase to produce mono- and diacylglycerols, using tri-(12-hydroxy stearoyl)-glycerol as a model for hydrogenated castor oil. The presence of an alkylated oxygen in the solvent appears to be an important factor in supporting lipase activity, with diisopropyl ether providing the best yield of di-(12-hydroxy stearoyl)-glycerol.