Development and Validation of a Kinetic Model for Enzymatic Hydrolysis Using Candida rugosa Lipase

Due to the importance of hydrolysis reactions, lipase enzymes are the subject of exhaustive research for many medical applications, biological treatment processes, and pharmaceutical synthesis. Glycerols and fatty acids produced from oil degradation are significantly important and had been used in many applications. Although the use of enzymes such as lipase in fatty acids production and glycerols manufacturing is well-known, industrial applications which require high conversion (99%) are hindered by the application of high pressure, high temperature, and the very long reaction times. These severe operating conditions are expensive and in most cases produces dark fatty acids as a result of side polymerization and the formation of undesired by-products. Additionally, treatment and purification of final products by complex distillation methods complicates the process and add further energy concerns. 

Research is needed to develop an efficient, simple, and low cost methods to produce clean fatty acids. Interestingly, some reaction parameters do not consume much energy and yet have great impact on the final products. Tailoring reaction parameters is a key factor to debottleneck the difficulties that limits the application of an important reaction such as oil hydrolysis.