LIPASE CATALYZED INTERESTERIFICATION OF TRIGLYCERIDES IN A SOLVENT FREE PROCESS-II - ENGINEERING PARAMETERS FOR THE APPLICATION OF A CONTINUOUS PROCESS

Fixed bed reactors are promising reactor systems for the continuous interesterification of fats and oils with immobilized lipases in a solvent-free process. Engineering parameters which are necessary for the design of the bioreactor were studied. The kinetics of the interesterification in the continuous process are influenced by the washing out of water from the biocatalyst by the substrate. External mass transfer effects can be neglected, internal mass transfer reduces the reaction rate. The pressure drop across the catalyst bed is acceptable at temperatures higher than 60-degrees-C. The results show that the continuous interesterification in a solvent-free process can be performed.