Enzymatic degumming: Degumming efficiency versus yield increase

Abstract

Enzymatic degumming trials were performed on crude extracted soybean (SBO) and rapeseed oils (RSO) with a microbial phospholipase A1 (Lecitase Ultra®). We obtained a degummed oil with a phosphorus content < 10 mg/kg when applying an enzyme dosage of 30 mg/kg and (feedstock dependent) a contact time of 10–120 min. While a good degumming efficiency can already be obtained after a relative short reaction time, it was observed that a longer reaction time (1–2 h) is required for complete degradation of the phospholipids (PL), which results in a yield increase. We demonstrated that Lecitase Ultra® has no specificity for a given PL, but that the rate of conversion depends on the PL composition of the crude oil. After 60 min, 80% of phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE) was degraded to its lyso‐form while only 40% of phosphatidyl inositol (PI) was converted in the same time interval. The formation of glycerophospholipids (GPL) was only observed after 60 min reaction. Practical applications: Practical advantages and disadvantages of the use of Lecithase Ultra for enzymatic degumming of oils is described, focusing on soybean oil and rapeseed oil. The information will be valuable and important for the oil refining industry. Degumming of soybean and rapeseed oils with phospholipase A1 (Lecithase Ultra) was performed and it was demonstrated that there is no specificity for a given phospholipid. However, the conversion rate depends on the phospholipid composition of the crude oils.

Recombinant Lipases and Phospholipases and Their Use as Biocatalysts for Industrial Applications

“…The chimeric gene was expressed in A. niger , and it showed the thermal and pH stability of the T. lanuginosus lipase, and the PLA 1 activity of the F. oxysporum phospholipase. When used in oil degumming, this enzyme showed no speficity for any of the phospholipids, and reduced the amount of phosphorous to below the 10 mg/kg, with short reaction times [ 275 ]. Lecitase ® Ultra has also been immobilized on different solid supports [ 276 ].…”

Preparation and Characterization of Cellulose Triacetate as Support for Lecitase Ultra Immobilization

“…This enzyme is known to have sn-1,3 regiospecificity in relation to triacylglycerol [ 35 ]. Lecitase ultra has been largely used for degumming oil [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ], but also for diacylglycerols and monoacylglycerols production [ 33 , 40 , 41 , 42 ], enantioselective reactions [ 43 , 44 ], and in methyl esters production [ 45 , 46 ]. Many papers studied immobilization of this enzyme and improve of stability and activity of this phospholipase [ 34 , 47 ].…”

Phospholipids of Rapeseeds and Rapeseed Oils: Factors Determining Their Content and Technological Significance—A Review

“…However, because of the high enzyme cost, the relative poor stability and selectivity of the enzyme this method did not find industrial application. (96,97) The above drawbacks of non-kosher porcine phospholipases contributed to the development of research on microbiological phospholipases that could be used in degumming process. (96) Nowadays the key phospholipases in this method include: A 1 obtained from Fusarium oxysporium and Theromyces lanuginosus/F.…”