Diacylglycerol synthesis by lipase-catalyzed partial hydrolysis of palm oil under microwave irradiation and continuous flow conditions

Diacylglycerols (DAG) are commonly used in different purity levels for food, medicine and cosmetic industries. Several approaches are found over the literature on DAG production under lipase-catalyzed reactions among which are highlighted: glycerol sterification, vegetable oils' glycerolysis and selective hydrolysis. Results obtained palm oil partial hydrolysis catalyzed by PS Amano IM under microwave irradiation show that DAG can be produced through short-term reactions and moderated yields (5 min, 30%). The DAG production using packed bed reactors under conventional heating and continuous flow conditions is more efficient allowing us to produce 128 g in 24 h with flow rate as a key feature. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.