Electrically enhanced enzymic hydrolysis of vegetable oils using lipase from Candida rugosa

Conditions have been established for the microdispersion of aqueous solutions of a lipase from Candida rugosa in columns of vegetable oil using a high electrical field. In a single pass through the column the enzyme solution lost just over 10% of its activity. Operation of the column over 8 h with continuous pumping of the enzyme effected over 80% hydrolysis of the oil without breakdown of the microdispersion or formation of an enzyme/oil emulsion. Activity of the enzyme was dependent on a negative charge being applied to the central electrode of the apparatus. Both the degree of hydrolysis achieved and the activity of recovered enzyme were superior to that from a simple stirred reactor of the same scale. In addition, the electrically enhanced system absorbed less than 40% of the energy demanded by the stirred system.