Fats and oils

Lipase Transesterification
Phospholipase De-gumming,
lyso-lecithin production
Organic synthesis
Lipase Resolution of chiral alcohols and amides
Acylase Synthesis of semisynthetic penicillin
Nitrilase Synthesis of enantiopure carboxylic acids

Processing of fats and oils

In the fat and oil industries, several new enzyme-based
processes have recently been introduced. Even though the
use of immobilized lipases in the interesterification of
triglycerides was first described in the 1980s, the process
has not been sufficiently cost-effective to be introduced in
true large-scale applications, for example, in the production
of margarine. Although enzyme production has become
much more efficient, the cost of immobilization has
remained an obstacle. Recent developments have, however,
changed this picture. A new process for immobilizing lipases
based on the granulation of silica has dramatically lowered
process costs, and procedures based on this new material
are now being implemented for the production of commodity
fats and oils with no content of trans-fatty acids
[32]. Another recently introduced process is the removal of
phospholipids in vegetable oils (de-gumming), using a
highly selective microbial phospholipase [33]. This is yet
another example where the introduction of an enzymebased
step has enabled both energy and water savings for
the benefit of both the industry and the environment.

Enzymes for organic synthesis

Chemical synthesis is an area where the use of enzyme catalysis

has long been seen as having great promise. Even so, the
chemical industry has been slow to implement enzyme-based
processes and the use of enzymes in the chemical industry is
still low compared with other industries. At present, however,
we are seeing very significant growth in this area and enzymebased
processes are now, finally, being widely introduced for
the production of a diversity of different chemicals; one key
example is in the production of single-enantiomer intermediates
used in the manufacture of drugs and agrochemicals [34].
This market is characterized by a very high degree of fragmentation,
as very few enzymes have applicability in a broad
range of different processes. Recently introduced enzymebased
processes include the use of lipases for the production
of enantiopure alcohols and amides, nitrilases for the
production of enantiopure carboxylic acids, and acylases for
the production of new semisynthetic penicillins [34]. As many
companies are currently at an early stage in the exploitation of
enzyme-based catalysis, many new developments are expected
in this area over the next few years.

32. Christensen MW, Andersen L, Kirk O, Holm HC: Enzymatic

interesterification of commodity oils and fats: approaching the
tonnes scale. Lipid Technol News 2001,7:33-37.
33. Clausen K: Enzymatic oil-degumming by a novel
microbial phospholipase. Eur J Lipid Sci Technol 2001,
103:333-340.
The use of phospholipases for oil-degumming is described with focus
on the introduction of the first enzyme of microbial origin for this application.
34. Schmidt A, Dordick JS, Hauer B, Kiener A, Wubbolts M, Witholt B:
Industrial biocatalysis today and tomorrow. Nature 2001,
409:258-268.