Enzymatic modification in a continuously regenerated packed bed column

Abstract

A process for the modification of a substrate comprising passing the substrate through a packed bed column of a specific volume of immobilized enzyme wherein the substrate enters the column at or near one end of the column (the ‘inlet end’) and the modified substrate exits at or near the opposite end of the column (the ‘outlet end’), a portion of the volume of immobilized enzyme is periodically removed at or near to the inlet end of the column, and an equivalent portion of immobilized enzyme is periodically added at or near to the outlet end of the column.

1 - 23 . (canceled)  
   
   
       24 : A process for the modification of a substrate comprising passing the substrate through a packed bed column of a specific volume of immobilized enzyme wherein: 
 a) the substrate enters the column at or near one end of the column (the ‘inlet end’) and the modified substrate exits at or near the opposite end of the column (the ‘outlet end’),    b) a portion of the volume of immobilized enzyme is periodically removed at or near to the inlet end of the column, and    c) a portion of immobilized enzyme is periodically added at or near the outlet end of the column.    
   
   
       25 : The process according to  claim 24 , wherein the column is substantially vertical with its inlet end at or near the bottom of the column and its outlet end at or near the top of the column.  
   
   
       26 : The process according to  claim 25 , wherein the process is essentially a continuous process.  
   
   
       27 : The process according to  claim 26 , wherein the portion of immobilized enzyme which is removed from the column is less than 35% of the total volume.  
   
   
       28 : The process according to  claim 27 , wherein the portion of immobilized enzyme which is removed from the column is substantially equivalent in volume to the portion of immobilized enzyme which is added.  
   
   
       29 : The process according to  claim 28 , wherein the steps of removing immobilized enzyme from and of adding immobilized enzyme to the column occur substantially concurrently.  
   
   
       30 : The process according to  claim 29 , wherein the removed portion of immobilized enzyme is used to pre-treat the substrate before it enters the column.  
   
   
       31 : The process according to  claim 30 , wherein the removed portion of immobilized enzyme is regenerated or reactivated before being used to pre-treat the substrate.  
   
   
       32 : The process according to  claim 31 , wherein the modification is a condensation or includes condensation steps.  
   
   
       33 : The process according to  claim 31 , wherein the modification is an interesterification.  
   
   
       34 : The process according to  claim 31 , wherein the modification is an isomerisation.  
   
   
       35 : The process according to  claim 31 , wherein the enzyme is a hydrolase.  
   
   
       36 : The process according to  claim 35 , wherein the enzyme is a lipase or a lipid-modifying enzyme and the substrate comprises one or more crude oils, one or more processed oils, or a mixture thereof.  
   
   
       37 : The process according to  claim 35 , wherein the substrate comprises one or more triacylglycerides, diacylglycerides, monoacylglycerides, phospholipids, free fatty acids, fatty acid esters or mixtures of two or more thereof.  
   
   
       38 : The process according to  claim 37 , wherein the substrate further comprises an alcohol.  
   
   
       39 : The process according to  claim 38 , wherein the alcohol is selected from: methanol, ethanol, glycerol, monopropylene glycol, ethylene glycol, butane diol, erythritol, pentaerythritol, sorbitol, sterols, stanols, tocopherols, polyphenols, esters of such alcohols and mixtures of two or more thereof.  
   
   
       40 : The process according to  claim 39 , wherein the substrate further comprises water.  
   
   
       41 : The process according to  claim 36 , wherein the substrate comprises one or more plant based oils or plant based oil fractions.  
   
   
       42 : The process according to  claim 41 , wherein the substrate comprises palm stearin, coconut oil, palm kernel oil or a mixture of two or more thereof.  
   
   
       43 : The process according to  claim 42 , wherein the substrate comprises 50% to 80% by weight palm stearin and 50% to 20% by weight coconut oil.  
   
   
       44 : The process according to  claim 43 , wherein the substrate comprises 65% to 75% by weight palm stearin and 35% to 25% by weight coconut oil.  
   
   
       45 : The process according to  claim 42 , wherein the substrate comprises 50% to 80% by weight palm stearin and 50% to 20% by weight palm kernel oil.  
   
   
       46 : The process according to  claim 45 , wherein the substrate comprises 60% to 70% by weight palm stearin and 40% to 30% by weight palm kernel oil.