
New Process Boosts Uses for Fats, OilsBy Tara
Weaver-Missick December 15, 1999A new enzyme-recycling method that
could expand non-food uses for domestic animal fats and vegetable oils has been
developed by Agricultural Research
Service scientists. Enzymes are complex proteins that are natures way of making
things happen when it comes to carrying out specific chemical reactions
in plants and animals. Researchers with ARS Hides,
Lipids and Wool Research Unit in Wyndmoor, Pa., have applied for a patent
(PATENT Application #O9-239,778) on their discovery. They have demonstrated the
method using the enzyme lipoxygenase, which adds oxygen to fatty acids. Adding
oxygen to fatty acids improves their properties, thus expanding their
commercial uses. Currently, manufacturers rely on imported castor oil for making certain
commercial materials. Castor oil is imported into the United States from South
America, China and India. Using the ARS technology, it is now possible to
produce castor-oil-type fatty acids from domestic fats and oils, instead of
relying on imports. The main advantages of using enzymes in this way: Theyre more stable
and can be used over and over again, which is more economical. Current
processes rely on non-reusable enzymes that make the process more expensive. This technology allows manufacturers to improve the properties of domestic
fats and oils for use in applications such as lubricants, greases, emulsifiers
and plasticizers. The scientists have expanded this research to include other enzymes such as
lipases, which are being used to convert oils, fats and restaurant greases into
biodiesel fuels and lubricants. Biodiesel products are a renewable alternative
to petroleum-derived diesel fuels. ARS researchers are currently looking for industrial partners to further
develop this technology commercially. ARS is the U.S. Department of Agricultures chief
scientific research agency. Scientific contact: An-Fei C. Hsu and Thomas A. Foglia, ARS
Eastern Regional Research Center, Hides,
Lipids and Wool Research Unit, Wyndmoor, Pa., phone (215) 233-6400, fax (215)
233-6795, [email protected],
[email protected]. U.S. Department of Agriculture | |