Lipases are enzymes from animal, vegetal or microbial sources, that catalise the hydrolysis of oils and fats, in order to produce free fatty acids, acilglycerols partials and glycerol. The partial hydrolysis of babassu fat by microbial lipase FAP (Amano Pharmaceutical Co.) was studied. Response surface methodology was employed in order to develop mathematical models. Statistical treatment analysed the effects of independent variables: enzyme concentration (3 to 327U/mL) and reaction time (1 to 31 h), in dependent variable: % of hydrolysis. The experimental results observed in the reactions, ranged from 6.52 to 41.44% of hydrolysis of babassu fat. By applying the statistical model, the results ranged from 13.57 to 43.80% of hydrolysis.
hydrolysis; enzime; babassu fat
