| abstract |
A process for the hydrolysis of liquid fats comprising contacting the fats, in the presence of water at hydrolyzing conditions, with lipase immobilized by adsorption from aqueous solution without pretreatment or pretreatment with a polar solvent on a microporous structure comprising a synthetic hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of aliphatic olefinic polymers, oxidation polymers, ionic polymers and blends thereof. Various embodiments of the invention include the immobilized lipase itself and an embodiment that employs a vertical packed column of particles of the immobilized lipase through which the liquid fat and water feed streams may be passed cocurrent or countercurrent, one that employs a horizontally disposed diaphragm that includes a layer of fibers of the immobilized lipase and an embodiment that employs a stirred reactor wherein a suspension of particles of the immobilized lipase is maintained in the reaction medium. The process of the invention has exhibited surprisingly high activity in the hydrolysis of fats and the immobilized lipase possesses significant longevity. |