Enrichment of very-long-chain mono-unsaturated fatty acids by lipase-catalysed hydrolysis and transesterification

Partial hydrolysis of triacylglycerols of high-erucic-acid seed oils from white mustard (Sinapis alba), oriental mustard (Brassica juncea) and honesty (Lunaria annua), catalysed by lipases from Candida cylindracea and Geotrichum candidum, leads to enrichment of erucic acid and other very-long-chain mono-unsaturated fatty acids (VLCMFA) in the acylglycerols (mono-, di- and triacylglycerol) while the C₁₈ fatty acids (oleic, linoleic and linolenic) are enriched in the fatty acid fraction. Partial hydrolysis of the high-erucic-acid triacylglycerols, catalysed by lipases from porcine pancreas, Chromobacterium viscosum, Rhizopus arrhizus and Rhizomucor miehei yields fatty acids with substantially higher levels of VLCMFA, as compared to the starting material, while the C₁₈ fatty acids are enriched in the acylglycerol fraction. Lipases from Penicillium sp. and Candida antarctica are ineffective for the fractionation of either group of fatty acids. Transesterification of the high-erucic-acid triacylglycerols with ethyl, propyl or butyl acetate or with n-butanol, catalysed by the lipase from R. miehei, leads to enrichment of VLCMFA in the alkyl (ethyl, propyl or butyl) esters, whereas the C₁₈ fatty acids are enriched in the acetylacylglycerols and acylglycerols.