Large‐scale immobilization of lipase fromPseudomonas fluorescens biotype I and an application for sardine oil hydrolysis

Large‐scale production of thermostable lipase from Pseudomonas fluorescens biotype I was carried out in a fermenter with an antifoaming agent and physical deforming treatments. After cultivation, heat treatment was applied to kill the bacteria and to inactivate other enzmes. Large‐scale immobilization of the lipase to a macroporous weak‐anion exchange resin was performed with a lipase solution that had an ionic strength of less than 0.1 and an ethanol concentration of 50%. Almost all eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were liberated continuously from sardine oil by the immobilized lipase in a countercurrent fluidized‐bed reactor. The cost of enzyme used in the reactor has been compared with a process in which soluble lipase from Candida rugosa was used.