Process optimization of enzyme catalyzed production of dietary diacylglycerol (DAG) using TLIM as biocatalyst.

Diacylglycerol (DAG)-rich sunflower oil was prepared and the optimal conditions for synthesis of DAG-rich oil by glycerolysis using biocatalyst TLIM was determined. A maximum production of 59.8% DAG was obtained after 5 h of constant reaction under vacuum (756 mm of Hg). The optimum temperature for glycerolysis was found to be 50°C, while stoichiometric molar ratio of sunflower oil:glycerol was 2:1 for this reaction. A minimum acid value of 0.48 mg of KOH.g(-1) of oil was observed under these conditions. The fatty acid composition of DAG-rich oil was found to be similar to the original TAG-rich sunflower oil used in the work. The lipase catalysed glycerolysis using 1,3 specific lipase was used to promote the formation of 1,3 isoform of DAG as this isoform is known to possess anti-obesity effect. DAG content was determined by HPTLC and GCMS. The DAG-rich oil contained 59.75% DAG of which 63.34% was found as 1,3-DAG and 36.65% was 1,2-DAG/2,3-DAG.