Solubility of simple and mixed triacylglycerols in supercritical CO₂

Abstract

A simple mixture of triacylglycerols (TAGs) was synthesized enzymatically from palmitic acid and oleic acid. The mixture contained tripalmitoylglycerol (PPP), trioleoylglycerol (OOO), and various isomers of palmitoyl‐dioleoylglycerol (POO) and oleoyl‐dipalmitoylglycerol (PPO). The behavior of this TAG mixture in equilibrium with supercritical carbon dioxide (SF‐CO 2 ) was studied at 40 and 60°C between 172 and 310 bar. Generally, the partition coefficients varied inversely with species molecular weight. The solubilities of PPP and OOO in SF‐CO 2 were determined at the same conditions. PPP was markedly more soluble in SF‐CO 2 when present in the TAG mixture than as a pure compound.