Selective lipid hydrolysis byGeotrichum candidum NRRL Y-553 lipase

Summary A crude preparation of lipases from the fungusGeotrichum candidum NRRL Y-553, which shows specificity toward cis-9 unsaturated fatty acids, was used to hydrolyze natural fats and oils, with the goal of producing industrially useful fatty acid and/or mono- and diacylglycerols products. Tallow and soy oil were hydrolyzed, producing free fatty acids high in oleic or cis-9 unsaturates, respectively. Hydrolysis of rapesced oil produced acylglycerols enriched in erucic acid.