Concentration of fatty acid alkyl esters by enzymatic reactions with glycerol

摘要

Disclosed is a process for the separation of fatty acid alkyl esters comprising: (a) forming a mixture of at least two fatty acid alkyl esters, glycerol, and a catalytically effective amount of an enzyme; (b) treating the mixture at a reduced pressure in the presence of water under conditions such that the at least two fatty acid esters esterify with the glycerol at different rates. (c) separating the glycerides and the fatty acid alkyl fraction. Also disclosed is a composition produced by the process and its use as an animal feed, infant formula, or food product. Also disclosed is an enzymatic process for separating fatty acid alkyl esters, comprising the step of agitating the fatty acid alkyl esters in a mixture at a temperature effective to cause the glycerol to begin esterify the fatty acid alkyl esters at different rates, while removing volatile reaction products from the reaction mixture.