Fatty acid polyol ester-coated lipase complex immobilized on insoluble matrix

Abstract

A lipase preparation is prepared containing a surfactant-coated lipase complex immobilized onto an insoluble matrix. A preferred surfactant is a fatty acid polyol ester such as sorbitan monostearate (SMS). The lipase preparation may be provided in granulated form or in an organic solvent, and can be used in esterifying, inter-esterifying, trans-esterifying and alcoholysing reactions with no added water. The lipase preferably has 1,3-positional specificity with respect to triacylglycerols, and the insoluble matrix may be modified with a fatty acid derivative. A lipase in aqueous medium is contacted with a surfactant to coat the lipase with the surfactant, and the coated lipase is immobilized onto an insoluble matrix to produce the lipase preparation which may be dried such as by freeze drying. Alternatively, the lipase may be first contacted with the insoluble matrix, and thereafter with the surfactant.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.