Process for enzymatically degumming vegetable oil

US5558781A · kind A · utility

Assignees

• Metallgesellschaft AG · DE
• Rohm GmbH Chemische Fabrik · DE

Inventors

• Henning Buchold · Hanau, DE
• Rudolf Boensch · Nackenheim, DE
• Joerg Schroeppel · Frankfurt, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 16, 1994
• Grant date: Sep 24, 1996
• Expiry date: Nov 16, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C11B3/003
• WIPO field: Basic materials chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process is disclosed for enzymatically degumming vegetable oil where the vegetable oil to be degummed is adjusted to a pH from 3 to 6 and is mixed with an aqueous enzyme solution, which contains one of the enzymes phospholipase A1, A2 or B. In a degumming reactor the enzymes are permitted to act on the oil at temperatures from 20.degree. to 90.degree. C. with stirring. Before or after a separation of the degummed oil a separation promoter or a solubilizer is added at temperatures from 20.degree. to 90.degree. C. to the liquid which has been withdrawn from the degumming reactor. A substantially sludgefree solution, which contains used enymes, is thus recovered and is recycled at least in part to a location preceding the degumming rector. The content of recycled used enzymes in the total amount of the enzymes dispersed in the oil is at least 10%.