Enzymatic hydrolysis and detection of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol esters

There are more and more studies on the detection method of 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol fatty acid esters (3-MCPD esters) at present, by comparing these methods for the determination of 3-MCPD esters. Indirect methods, which determine total amount of 3-MCPD after hydrolysis of the esters, have an advantage over direct methods. The existing indirect methods, however, may yield unreliable results or require long hours of alkaline methanolysis. In contrast, the indirect enzymatic hydrolysis method has mild conditions and more accurate results. In this study, we developed a reliable and rapid indirect method for determination of 3-MCPD esters. 3-MCPD esters were enzymolysis to 3-MCPD by indirect enzymatic hydrolysis method, and the conditions of enzymatic hydrolysis were optimized, the content of 3-MCPD after enzymatic hydrolysis was detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and the yield was calculated. Finally, the optimum conditions for enzymatic hydrolysis of 3-MCPD esters were determined. According to the optimal enzymatic hydrolysis condition, the contents of 3-MCPD esters in four food oils were determined. The method is simple and sensitive and can meet the requirement of 3-MCPD esters detection in general oils.

Automated summary

There is an increasing number of studies on the detection method of 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol fatty acid esters (3-MCPD esters), comparing different methods for determining 3-MCPD esters. Indirect methods have an advantage over direct methods but existing indirect methods may yield unreliable results or require long hours of alkaline methanolysis. In this study, a reliable and rapid indirect method for determining 3-MCPD esters was developed by enzymolysis to 3-MCPD through enzymatic hydrolysis, with optimized conditions. The method is simple, sensitive, and suitable for detecting 3-MCPD esters in general oils.