Hydrolysis of Olive Oil by Lipase, Immobilized on Hydrophobic Support

Two commercially available lipases, Lipase OF (non-specific lipase from Candida rugosa) and Lipolase 100T (1, 3-specific lipase from Aspergillus niger), were immobilized on insoluble hydrophobic support HDPE (high density polyethylene) by the physical adsorption method. Hydrolysis performance was enhanced by mixing a non-specific Lipase OF and a 1, 3-specific Lipolase 100T at a 2 : 1 ratio. The results also showed that the immobilized lipase maintained its activity at broader temperature ($25~55^{\circ}C$) and pH (4-8) ranges than soluble lipases. In the presence of organic solvent (isooctane), the immobilized lipase retained most of its activity in upto 12 runs of hydrolysis experiment. However, without organic solvent in the reaction mixture, the immobilized lipase maintained most of its activity even after 20 runs of hydrolysis experiment.