Process of hydrolyzing oil or fat in a packed layer of immobilized enzyme

Abstract

A process is disclosed for hydrolyzing an oil or fat by mixing and feeding an oil-phase substrate and a water-phase substrate to a packed layer with an immobilized enzyme packed therein. The oil or fat is subjected to a hydrolytic reaction under feeding conditions such that a shear stress factor (τw), which is applied to a surface of said immobilized enzyme and is expressed by the following formula (1):τ=()×/(1−ε)  (1)wherein ΔP represents a maximum pressure loss [MPa] through said packed layer during said hydrolytic reaction, L represents a thickness [m] of said packed layer, dp represents a weight-basis average particle size [m] of particles of said packed, immobilized enzyme, and ε represents a void volume [-] of said packed layer, remains within a range of from 1×10to 1.4×10MPa. The reaction of the oil-phase substrate and the water-phase substrate in the packed layer of the immobilized enzyme of high activity under the predetermined conditions allows the immobilized enzyme to more effectively exhibit its activity, so that the efficiency of the hydrolytic reaction is heightened to increase the productivity and the serviceability of the immobilized enzyme is also improved.