LAUSR

Abstract Structured triacylglycerols (TAGs), rich in 1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoylglycerol (OPO) and 1-oleoyl-2-palmitoyl-3-linoleoylglycerol (OPL), were prepared by enzymatic acidolysis of fractionated palm stearin with free fatty acids. The effects of enzyme type, substrate molar ratio, enzyme load, temperature, and reaction time on the yields of OPO and OPL, palmitic acid (PA) content at the sn-2 position of TAG, and the percentage of PA at the sn-2 position relative to total PA content were investigated. Under optimal reaction conditions (palm stearin/oleic acid/linoleic acid molar ratio of 1:8:4, lipase NS 40086 loading of 8%, 60 °C, 4 h), the combined yields of OPO and OPL was 69.26%, PA content at the sn-2 position reached 87.75%, and the relative percentage of PA at the sn-2 position was up to 71.07%. The synthesized TAGs have potential to be used in infant formulas.