Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing refined fats and oils, including: a treating fats and oils by bringing the fats and oils into contact with water vapor or inert gas; and subsequently performing thin-film evaporation of the fats and oils.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a useful substance, the process includes feeding a liquid mixture formed of two liquid phases into a fixed bed-type reaction column packed with an immobilized enzyme, and allowing the liquid mixture to flow in the same direction in a co-current manner to perform a reaction. The packing thickness of the immobilized enzyme per stage of the fixed bed-type reaction column having an equivalent circular diameter of 35 mm? or larger is 10 to 200 mm. The flow of the reaction liquid inside the column can be made uniform, and as a result, reactivity and productivity is enhanced.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a method for efficiently producing a diacylglycerol-rich fat and/or oil that has a low content of trans-unsaturated fatty acids and has a good color and a good flavor characteristic to diacylglycerols. A method for producing a diacylglycerol-rich fat and/or oil, by hydrolyzing a raw fat and/or oil by an enzymatic splitting method, and subjecting the fatty acids and glycerin obtained thereby to an esterification reaction, wherein a raw fat and/or oil containing undeodorized fat and/or oil in an amount of 50% by weight or more is used, and a deodorization treatment is carried out after the esterification reaction, to the extent that the relationship between the deodorization time (x) and the deodorization temperature (y) satisfies the following conditions (i) and (ii): y??2.59x+566 ??(i) y?617x?0.0455 (provided that 475?y?563) ??(ii) wherein x represents the deodorization time (minutes), and y represents the deodorization temperature (K).

Abstract: Provided is a process for producing a diacylglycerol-rich fat or oil efficiently under an industrially advantageous condition. Provided is a process for producing a diacylglycerol-rich fat or oil, including subjecting monoacylglycerols to a transesterification reaction by using a lipase in the presence of water.

Abstract: Provided is a method of producing an immobilized lipolytic enzyme which has almost the same ability as that of an unused immobilized enzyme by effectively utilizing an immobilization carrier in a used immobilized enzyme which has been used in an esterification reaction. The method of producing an immobilized lipolytic enzyme includes: mixing an immobilized lipolytic enzyme that has been used in an esterification reaction with a solvent to wash the immobilized lipolytic enzyme so that the residual oil content in the immobilized lipolytic enzyme is reduced to 50 parts by mass or less based on 100 parts by mass of an immobilization carrier; bringing the immobilized lipolytic enzyme into contact with an alkali solution; collecting the immobilization carrier; and adsorbing a lipolytic enzyme on the immobilization carrier.

Abstract: A process for producing fatty acid by hydrolyzing oil and fat, which comprises: a first step of partially hydrolyzing oil and fat by either of the following method (a) or (b), and a second step of hydrolysis by the other method: (a) enzymatic hydrolysis using an immobilized enzyme which is an enzyme immobilized on a support and (b) high pressure and temperature hydrolysis. A method of efficiently producing fatty acid with a reduced content of trans-unsaturated fatty acid in the constituent fatty acids and having a good appearance with reduced coloring by hydrolysis of oil and fat is provided.

Abstract: A method for producing a diacylglycerol-rich fat or oil is provided. This method includes the steps of reacting an acyl group donor with an acyl group receptor, and separating unreacted material and byproducts by distillation for use as a part of the starting material in the subsequent cycle of production. The distillation is conducted such that the content of monoacylglycerol in the fat or oil after the distillation is 0.5 to 15% by weight.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a useful substance, the process including feeding a liquid mixture formed of two liquid phases into a fixed bed-type reaction column packed with an immobilized enzyme, and allowing the liquid mixture to flow in the same direction in a co-current manner to perform a reaction, wherein the packing thickness of the immobilized enzyme per stage of the fixed bed-type reaction column having an equivalent circular diameter of 35 mm? or larger is 10 to 200 mm. In the process for producing a useful substance, which is performed by feeding a liquid mixture formed of two liquid phases into a fixed bed-type reaction column packed with an immobilized enzyme, the flow of the reaction liquid inside the column can be made uniform, and as a result, reactivity and productivity can be enhanced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a useful substance, which includes feeding a liquid mixture formed of two liquid phases into a fixed bed-type reaction column packed with an immobilized enzyme, and performing a reaction while allowing the liquid mixture to flow in the same direction in a co-current manner, wherein the fixed bed-type reaction column has partition plates inserted in the longitudinal direction of the fixed bed-type reaction column so as to form a plurality of tube-shaped structures, wherein each tube-shaped structure has a lateral cross-section which is circular or polygonal in shape with at least a part being unclosed and has a representative length of 100 mm or less, wherein the immobilized enzyme is packed into the tube-shaped structures, and wherein the liquid mixture is fed into the tube-shaped structures.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a useful substance by supplying, to a fixed-bed reactor packed with an immobilized enzyme, a liquid mixture containing two liquid phases, in which the two liquid phases are allowed to flow in an identical, parallel direction, which method employs a fixed-bed reactor equipped with an insertion unit or tubes, so as to form a plurality of lumens in the fixed-bed reactor, each lumen having a cross section of a circular shape with a diameter of 100 mm or less or having a polygonal shape with a diagonal line of 100 mm or less, wherein the lumens are packed with an immobilized enzyme and the liquid mixture is supplied therethrough. In a reaction performed by passing a reaction mixture exhibiting two liquid phases through a fixed-bed reactor equipped with an immobilized enzyme, overall flow of the reaction liquid is made uniform, to thereby facilitate production of a useful substance in an efficient manner.

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 (?w), which is applied to a surface of said immobilized enzyme and is expressed by the following formula (1): ?w=(?P/L)×dp×?/(1??)??(1) wherein ?P 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 ? represents a void volume [?] of said packed layer, remains within a range of from 1×10?4 to 1.4×10?3 MPa.

Abstract: A process for producing fatty acids, which comprises supplying an oil phase substrate and a water phase substrate to an enzyme column packed with an immobilized enzyme, concurrently flowing them in the same direction, and hydrolyzing a fat and/or oil, wherein the oil phase substrate and the water phase substrate are alternately supplied to the enzyme column.

Abstract: A method for producing a diacylglycerol-rich fat or oil is provided. This method includes the steps of reacting an acyl group donor with an acyl group receptor, and separating unreacted material and byproducts by distillation for use as a part of the starting material in the subsequent cycle of production. The distillation is conducted such that the content of monoacylglycerol in the fat or oil after the distillation is 0.5 to 15% by weight.

Abstract: Provided is a method for regenerating an immobilized enzyme for lipolysis which has been used for lipolysis, thereby exhibiting a reduced activity, which includes washing the immobilized enzyme with a solvent; controlling an equilibrium concentration of fatty acids in the solvent; removing the washed immobilized enzyme therefrom, and contacting the resulting immobilized enzyme with a fresh enzyme, wherein the fresh enzyme adsorbs onto the immobilized enzyme. According to the preferred methods of the present invention, it is possible to make effective use of the residual activity of an immobilized enzyme spent for lipolysis and regenerate the spent immobilized enzyme to have a performance similar to that before the lipolysis at a low cost using less amount of liquid waste.

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 (?w), which is applied to a surface of said immobilized enzyme and is expressed by the following formula (1): ?w=(?P/L)×dp×?/(1??)??(1) wherein ?P 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 ? represents a void volume [?] of said packed layer, remains within a range of from 1×10?4 to 1.4×10?3 MPa.

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 (?w), which is applied to a surface of said immobilized enzyme and is expressed by the following formula (1): ?w=(?P/L)×dp×?/(1??)??(1) wherein ?P 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 ? represents a void volume [-] of said packed layer, remains within a range of from 1×10?4 to 1.4×10?3 MPa.

Abstract: Provided is a method for regenerating an immobilized enzyme for lipolysis which has been used for lipolysis, thereby exhibiting a reduced activity, which includes washing the immobilized enzyme with a solvent; controlling an equilibrium concentration of fatty acids in the solvent; removing the washed immobilized enzyme therefrom, and contacting the resulting immobilized enzyme with a fresh enzyme, wherein the fresh enzyme adsorbs onto the immobilized enzyme. According to the preferred methods of the present invention, it is possible to make effective use of the residual activity of an immobilized enzyme spent for lipolysis and regenerate the spent immobilized enzyme to have a performance similar to that before the lipolysis at a low cost using less amount of liquid waste.

Abstract: A lipolytic enzyme such as lipase is adsorbed on a porous anion-exchange resin carrier to obtain an immobilized enzyme without drying. The un-dried immobilized enzyme is contacted with a fat or oil for a time which may be about 2 hours to about 24 hours to stabilize the immobilized enzyme, and the immobilized enzyme is recovered from the fat or oil. The recovered immobilized enzyme is then used for esterifying or hydrolyzing a substrate. Water content of the un-dried immobilized enzyme may be 20% or more be weight such as 20-60%. Prior to immobilization, the resin carrier may be treated with a lypophylic aliphatic acid which preferably has 8 to 18 carbons.

Abstract: The present invention provides an immobilized enzyme for lipolysis, which sufficiently exhibits its activity, prevents the enzyme from being left or inactivated, and can reduce the amount of the enzyme used for lipolysis. Further, the present invention provides an immobilized enzyme for esterification, which sufficiently exhibits its activity and prevents the enzyme from being left or inactivated, thus promoting the esterification reaction. That is, the present invention comprises immobilizing an enzyme by adsorption onto a porous, anion-exchange resin as an immobilizing carrier and treating it with fats and oils to prepare an immobilized enzyme for lipolysis. That is, the present invention comprises immobilizing a lipolytic enzyme by adsorption onto an immobilizing carrier, and without drying, directly bringing it into contact with its reaction substrate, thereby enabling the esterification reaction.

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.