Fat process and composition

Claim 2

A process for the interesterification of glyceride oil or fat, comprising: treating said oil or fat with a water-soluble microbial lipase enzyme under conditions to effect an interesterfication reaction, in the presence of up to 10% water wherein said water-soluble microbial lipase enzyme is adsorbed on an inert, powdered, water-insoluble dispersing agent and recovering from the reaction a glyceride product free from fatty acid and partial glycerides.

Claim 3

A process according to claim 1 wherein said water is present at a level of 0.2 to 1 percent by weight of said glyceride oil or fat.

Claim 4

A process according to claim 1 wherein said water soluble enzyme is present at a level of 0.05 to 5 percent by weight of said glyceride oil or fat.

Claim 5

A process according to claim 1 wherein said enzyme is specifically reactive to the 1-, and 3-positions of the glyceride molecule.

Claim 6

A process according to claim 1 wherein said enzyme is selected from the group consisting of Rhizopus, Geotrichum and Aspergillus species.

Claim 7

A process according to claim 1 wherein said dispersing agent is present at a level of 1 to 10 percent by weight of said glyceride oil or fat.

Claim 8

A process according to claim 1 wherein said water soluble enzyme is recovered and re-used in said process.

Claim 9

A process according to claim 1 wherein said treatment is at a temperature of 20° to 60° C.

Claim 10

A process according to claim 1 wherein said glyceride fat or oil comprises a mid-fraction of palm oil.

Claim 11

A process according to claim 1 wherein said glyceride fat or oil comprises a vegetable butter.

Claim 12

A process according to claim 1 wherein said enzyme is specifically reactive to fatty acids or the radicals thereof with a double bond in the 9-position only.

Claim 13

A process according to claim 1 wherein said enzyme is selected from the group consisting of Candida cylindracae, Geotrichum candidum, Rhizopus delemar, Rhizopus arrhizus, Rhizopus japonicus and Aspergillus niger lipase.

Claim 14

A process according to claim 1 wherein said dispersing agent is selected from the group consisting of diatomaceous earth, activated charcoal, alumina, glass, carboxymethyl cellulose and hydroxyapatite.

Claim 15

A process according to claim 1 wherein said glyceride oil or fat is of vegetable origin.

Claim 16

A process according to claim 14 wherein said glyceride oil or fat is selected from the group consisting of olive, palm, cottonseed, soybean and sunflower oils.

Claim 17

A process of modifying the properities of fats and oils comprising selectively interesterifying the glycerides thereof by: treating said fat or oil with a water-soluble microbial lipase enzyme, in the presence of up to 10% water, for a time sufficient to effect said interesterification, wherein said enzyme is selectively specific to the 1- and 3-positions of the glycerides and is adsorbed on an inert, powdered, water-insoluble dispersing agent. PG,41

Claim 18

A process of modifying the properities of fats and oils comprising selectively interesterifying the glycerides thereof by: treating said fat or oil with a water-soluble microbial lipase enzyme, in the presence of up to 10% water, for a time sufficient to effect said interesterification, wherein said enzyme is selectively specific to the 1- and 3-positions of the glycerides and is adsorbed on an inert, powdered, water-insoluble dispersing agent. PG,41

Claim 19

A process for the interesterification of glyceride oil or fat comprising: treating said fat or oil, in the presence of a free fatty acid, with a water soluble microbial lipase enzyme, in the presence of up to 10 percent water, for a time sufficient to effect said interesterification, wherein said water soluble enzyme is adsorbed on an inert, powdered, water insoluble dispersing agent.

Claim 20

A process for the interesterification of glyceride oil or fat comprising: treating said fat or oil, in the presence of a free fatty acid, with a water soluble microbial lipase enzyme, in the presence of up to 10 percent water, for a time sufficient to effect said interesterification, wherein said water soluble enzyme is adsorbed on an inert, powdered, water insoluble dispersing agent.

Claim 21

A process according to claim 17 wherein the molar ratio of said glyceride oil or fat to free fatty acid is 0.3:1 to 7:1.

Claim 22

A process according to claim 17 wherein said free fatty acid comprises stearic acid.

Claim 23

A process according to claim 17 wherein said free fatty acid comprises linoleic acid.

Claim 24

A process for the preparation of a 1, 3-di-saturated glyceride comprising selectively interesterifying a more highly unsaturated glyceride by treating said glyceride, in the presence of a saturated free fatty acid with a water soluble microbial lipase enzyme, in the presence of up to 10 percent water, for a time sufficient to effect said interesterification, wherein said enzyme is selectively specific to the 1 and 3 positions of the glyceride molecule and is adsorbed on an inert, powdered, water insoluble dispersing agent.

Claim 25

A process for the preparation of a 1, 3-di-saturated glyceride comprising selectively interesterifying a more highly unsaturated glyceride by treating said glyceride, in the presence of a saturated free fatty acid with a water soluble microbial lipase enzyme, in the presence of up to 10 percent water, for a time sufficient to effect said interesterification, wherein said enzyme is selectively specific to the 1 and 3 positions of the glyceride molecule and is adsorbed on an inert, powdered, water insoluble dispersing agent.