ARS | Publication request: BIOPROCESSING OF FATS AND OILS

Submitted to: Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Oil Chemists' Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: February 21, 2006
Publication Date: April 30, 2006
Citation: Foglia, T.A. 2006. Bioprocessing of fats and oils [abstract]. Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Oil Chemists' Society. p. 16.

Technical Abstract: The modification of fats and oils and their co-products for added value is a major theme of lipid research. Biotechnological processes often are favored for their mild reaction conditions and low environmental impact and sometimes are the only practical routes to desired products. For example, lipases allow for the isolation of nutritionally or industrially important fatty acids and the production of structured triglycerides for use as nutraceuticals or low-calorie fats. Lipases also allow for the conversion of a mixture of glycerides and free fatty acids to simple esters for use as biofuels or biobased lubricants. Adoption of enzymatic processes requires fast, thorough conversions and enzyme recycling via immobilization. The fermentation of fats and oils produces polymers and surfactants, such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA; biodegradable polyesters) and sophorolipids (alkyl polyglucoside-type surfactants). Fermentative processes demand good product yield and facile means of isolating the desired products.