Patent ID: 6258575
Filing Date: 2001-07-10
Classification: C12M,C12N,C12P

Abstract:
A batch process for hydrolyzing oil or fat, which comprises the steps:a) providing in a substrate-feeding chamber, a liquid oil or fat phase above a liquid aqueous phase such that there is a distinct interface between said phases;b) separately removing the liquid oil or fat phase and the liquid aqueous phase from the substrate-feeding chamber, mixing the separately removed liquid oil or fat phase and the liquid aqueous phase, to produce a mixture of the phases, and then feeding said mixture to an immobilized enzyme-containing reaction column, to hydrolyze the oil or fat to produce a reaction mixture containing monoglycerides, diglycerides, fatty acids, glycerol and water;c) feeding the reaction mixture to the substrate-feeding chamber, and introducing the mixture into the liquid oil or fat phase therein in a manner such that the interface between the liquid oil or fat phase and the liquid aqueous phase remains distinct and undisturbed, whereby said monoglycerides, diglycerides and fatty acids remain in said liquid oil or fat phase, and said water and glycerol separate into said liquid aqueous phase; andd) repeating steps b) and c), until a desired degree of hydrolysis of said oil or fat is obtained, while said interface between said liquid oil or fat and said liquid aqueous phase remains distinct and undisturbed in said substrate-feeding chamber throughout said process.