ABSTRACT
Interesterification is a catalytic process involving the exchange of fatty acids between existing esters to form new esters. When applied to a mixture of triacylglycerols, the available fatty acids are redistributed over all the possible triacylglycerol types. Interesterification is usually carried out in a single phase (liquid). With a nonselective catalyst, rearrangement of the fatty acids will then ultimately result in their statistical or random distribution over all possible positions. Sodium ethoxide or methoxide catalyzed batch interesterification is applied more widely. The process can be carried out in conventional neutralizing-bleaching equipment provided with adequate facilities for catalyst dosing and oil drying. During the past 15 years there has been much interest in the development of enzyme-catalyzed processes for the interesterification of oils and fats. Enzymatic interesterification reaction systems consist of the lipase catalyst together with a very small amount of water dispersed in a continuous organic phase comprising the reactants and if necessary a solvent such as hexane.
