Enzymatic hydrolysis of canola oil with hydrodynamic cavitation

A hydrodynamic cavitation system based on a venturi was used to test the effectiveness of cavitation for enhancing the enzymatic hydrolysis of canola oil using lipase from Candida rugosa. Cavitation led to the production of fine oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions with the enzyme in the water phase. Using venturi inlet pressures of up to 8 bar, the yield of fatty acids was only about 60% of the maximum possible. In contrast, a simple stirred batch reactor produced over 90% of the maximum possible yield with reaction rates equal to, or better than, those obtained in a cavitating system. It was concluded that cavitation inhibited the reaction in some way and is not effective for intensification of hydrolysis.