Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) production and lipase‐catalyzed interesterification of purified CLA with canola oil

In this study, two important isomers of CLA, i.e. c9,t11 and t10,c12, were produced up to ca. 73% of total fatty acids, employing alkali isomerization of safflower oil, followed by purification with only one‐step urea crystallization to 85.6%, while the recovery of the purification process was 35%. Interesterification (acidolysis) of purified CLA with canola oil was then conducted by Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase. The CLA content incorporated into the triacylglycerols (TG) was 26.6 mol‐% after 48 h of reaction time. Physical and chemical properties of the TG were then changed according to the degree of substitution of oleic acid in canola oil with CLA.