Hard Butter Production via Selective Lipase Transesterification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current processes for preparing hard butter as a cacao butter equivalent are inefficient and require additional steps for rebalancing fatty acid composition, making them industrially unsuitable and complex.
Innovation Solution
A process involving transesterification between straight-chain saturated C16-22 fatty acids and lower alcohol esters with a granulated powder lipase derived from Rhizopus oryzae and/or Rhizopus delemar, using soybean powder, which simplifies the reaction and eliminates the need for rebalancing fatty acid raw materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If transesterification is performed using conventional lipases with multiple fatty acid raw materials, then triglycerides can be produced, but additional steps for rebalancing fatty acid composition are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the enzyme parameter by selecting a specific lipase with high 1,3-position selectivity and altered substrate specificity. This parameter change enables the enzyme to preferentially catalyze transesterification at the 1,3-positions while minimizing reactions at the 2-position, thereby producing triglycerides with naturally balanced fatty acid composition that eliminates the need for additional rebalancing steps
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and utilizes only the desired 1,3-selective transesterification reaction pathway by employing a highly selective lipase. This selective extraction of the desired reaction pathway prevents the formation of unwanted byproducts and eliminates the need for subsequent separation and rebalancing operations
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple fatty acids are used as raw materials to prepare triglycerides with different fatty acid residues at 1,3-positions, then diverse hard butter products can be produced, but analysis and rebalancing steps are necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary action by pre-selecting fatty acid raw materials with appropriate composition ratios before the transesterification reaction. The lipase's high 1,3-selectivity ensures that these pre-selected fatty acids are incorporated into the triglyceride product in the desired proportions, eliminating the need for post-reaction analysis and rebalancing operations
3Ease of manufacture
If natural fats and oils are used directly or blended, then hard butter can be produced, but yield and price vary significantly depending on weather factors
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the production approach from direct use of natural fats and oils to a controlled transesterification process using a specific lipase. This parameter change enables precise control over the triglyceride composition and eliminates dependence on weather-affecte d natural fat and oil yields, ensuring stable and reliable supply
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the natural, weather-dependent extraction and blending process with an enzyme-catalyzed chemical transformation process. This substitution uses biocatalysis to synthesize the desired triglycerides from readily available fatty acid raw materials, eliminating the reliability issues associated with natural fat and oil production
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This process efficiently produces hard butters with properties similar to cacao butter, reducing material waste and operational complexity, and allows for the reuse of fatty acids and esters without the need for rebalancing, enhancing material efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
conducting transesterification between one or more selected from the group consisting of straight-chain saturated C16-22 fatty acids and lower alcohol esters thereof and a triglyceride having oleoyl group and/or linoleoyl group at the 2-position with an action of a granulated powder lipase
Implementation Method 2
with an action of a granulated powder lipase which is obtained by granulating a lipase together with a specific material comprising protein
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for preparing a hard butter, which comprises conducting transesterification between one or more selected from the group consisting of straight-chain saturated C16-22 fatty acids and lower alcohol esters thereof and a triglyceride having oleoyl group and/or linoleoyl group at the 2-position with an action of a granulated powder lipase comprising a lipase derived from Rhizopus oryzae and/or Rhizopus delemar and a soybean powder, and removing the granulated powder lipase after the transesterification. The process is industrially suitable process for preparing a hard butter, which have excellent properties as a cacao butter equivalent.