Ultrasonic-Enzymatic Diacylglycerol Production

Diacylglycerol (DAG) rich oils have shown a high nutritional value since they are digested and metabolized in a way, which significantly reduces body weight. Diacylglycerol can be produced by the hydrolysis of palm oil using a commercial lipase as a catalyst under ultrasonication. By the ultrasonic-enzymatic hydrolysis, DAGs can be produced in high volumes at very low processing costs.

By an ultrasonically assisted bio-catalyzed hydrolysis, standard vegetable oils can be turned into DAG-rich edible oils with a high nutritional value. The ultrasonic-enzymatic hydrolysis provides a good yield of a diacylglycerol-rich oil in shorter reaction times and under mild conditions.

The benefits of the ultrasonic hydrolysis:

• fine emulsification
• increased mass transfer
• mild conditions
• short process time
• temperature controlled
• inline production

Research & Results in Ultrasonic Diacylglycerol Synthesis

Awadallak et al. (2013) have investigated the ultrasonically assisted hydrolysis of palm oil using Lipozyme RM IM as biocatalyst. In the two-step reaction, ultrasound is used to promote the emulsification of oil and water. In the second step, the enzymes are added for the catalytic conversion.
Ultrasonic setup as used in the research of Awadallak: Sonicator UP200St with glass flow cell (see picture on the left).
The research group found that following two-step process results in the best results: the ultrasound probe was inserted to a depth of about 10mm into the water/oil system, the power was adjusted to 80 W and turned on for 3 min to emulsify the system before being removed, and then the enzyme (1.36 wt.% water + oil mass) was added while the solution was mixed by magnetic stirring (300 rpm).
The ultrasound treatment was carried out using the Hielscher 200watts powerful ultrasonic probe-type sonicator UP200St.

Thus ultrasonically assisted bio-catalysis yielded DAG oil with 34.17 wt.% concentration after 12h reaction time. The sonication step itself was very short with a duration of just 1.2 min.
Since sonication is applied as first step to obtain a fine-sized ultrasonic emulsion, this two-step process has advantages for large-scale production: Its energy costs are very low and its short emulsification time allows the use of reduced continuous ultrasonic equipment to feed large hydrolysis reactors.

Ultrasonic Equipment for Pilot & Production

Hielscher Ultrasonics is your long-time experienced partner for ultrasonic processes including an efficient diacylglycerol synthesis. We manufacture powerful and reliable ultrasonic systems for any volume. As supplier to the pharmaceutical and food industry, we are specialised in the manufacturing of ultrasonic equipment as well as in the consulting for ultrasonic processes and their implementation into production streams.
The table below gives you an indication of the processing capacity of our ultrasonicators.

Hielscher Ultrasonic MultiPhaseCavitator

Hielscher has developed the unique flow cell insert MultiPhaseCavitator MPC48. The insert MPC48 (see picture on the right) is equipped with 48 fine cannulas, through which the second phase is injected as very fine liquid stream with a diameter of 0.3mm to 1.2mm (depending on the cannula size). Since the second phase is injected already very fine-sized directly into the ultrasonic cavitation zone, a micro- or nano-emulsion is produced by sonication. The MPC48 insert is designed for Hielscher flow cell reactors and can be used for batch and continuous processing.
Click here to learn more about the MultiPhaseCavitator!