To provide a transesterification process that can esterify not only sterols but also stanols, particularly a method of producing esters that is suitable for the use as functional foods.
Steryl or stanyl esters are produced by (a) bringing a raw material mixture including at least one of esters selected from the group consisting of esters derived from sterols or stanols and fatty acids and short- chain aliphatic alcohols into contact with lipase to prepare a reaction mixture, (b) separating the lipase catalyst from the reaction mixture and (c) separating the steryl or stanyl esters from the reaction mixture remaining after separation of. The enzymatic esterification reaction is carried out at 30-90°C under the atmospheric pressure or lower with stirring. The separation of ester from the reaction mixture is carried out by distillation under reduced pressure.
MARKOVITS ROJAS ALEJANDRO
MARKOVITS SCHERSL ENDRE
BASTERRECHEA MARTINEZ IRENE
