Synthesis of structured lipids containing pinolenic acid at the sn-2 position via lipase-catalyzed acidolysis

Lipase-catalyzed acidolysis of a modified pine nut oil (MPNO)-the pine nut oil was obtained from Pinus koraiensis Siebold & Zucch.-with capric acid was studied in a continuous packed bed reactor (PBR) using Lipozyme RM IM from Rhizomucor miehei as a biocatalyst. The MPNO containing pinolenic acid (PLA) at the sn-2 position of the triacylglycerol (TAG) backbone was prepared by lipase-catalyzed redistribution of pine nut oil using Novozym 435 from Candida antarctica. The effects of the water content in the reaction mixture and the molar ratio of substrates on the extent of the acidolysis reaction as a function of residence time in a PBR were investigated. The water content of the reaction mixture significantly influenced both the rate of acidolysis and the degree of acyl migration, but the molar ratio of substrates affected only the rate of acidolysis. The optimum water content and molar ratio for synthesis of the structured lipid containing PLA at the sn-2 position and capric acid at the sn-1, 3 positions of the TAG backbone were 0.04%, and 1:5 (MPNO to capric acid), respectively.