High shear reactor for glycerolysis—Interesterification palm stearin‐olein blend: Reaction kinetics and physical properties

Abstract Structured lipids containing high monoacylglycerol (MAG) and diacylglycerol (DAG) (SLs‐MDAG) were synthesized by chemical glycerolysis‐interesterification using sodium metasilicate as the catalyst in High Shear Reactor (HSR). The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of temperature on the glycerolysis‐interesterification kinetics at relatively low temperatures in an HSR and the physical product properties. The reaction was performed using immiscible and highly viscous reactants at various temperatures (80–120°C) and a mixing rate of 2000 rpm for 5 h. Results showed that the reaction rate constant exponentially increased as temperature increased. Triacylglycerol (TAG) conversion was 2.5 fold greater at 110 and 120°C compared to lower reaction temperatures (80 and 90°C). MAG and DAG increased by about 18.3% and 13.4%, respectively, as the reaction temperature increased from 80 to 120°C. The product's melting point, hardness, and color were also improved by increasing temperature. In summary, SLs‐MDAG could be produced at a relatively low temperature (110°C) using HSR. The glycerolysis‐interesterification kinetic displayed an exponential relationship, even though it did not precisely fit the Arrhenius model.