Assessment of process parameters on the production of diglycerides rich in omega-3 fatty acids through the enzymatic glycerolysis of fish oil

The main objective of this work is to present new experimental information concerning the effect of relevant process parameters related to the production of diglycerides by enzymatic glycerolysis of fish oil. Reaction products can be applied as ingredients in food industry, joining the emulsifying properties of partial glycerides along with the nutritional benefits attributed to the omega-3 fatty acids. From preliminary reactions, conversion was higher for a solvent- and surfactant-free system but the long time to reach appreciable amounts of diglycerides may be a drawback for practical purposes. To overcome this problem, the addition of tert-butanol revealed to be relevant, leading to high diglycerides contents in short times. The system containing Tween 65 led to the highest amount of diglycerides. This study described the feasibility of enzymatic synthesis of diglycerides rich in EPA and DHA in short reaction times as well by using a more environmentally friendly process.