RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY: AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR THE OPTIMIZATION OF
THE EXTRACTION OF VITAMIN E FROM PALM FATTY ACID DISTILLATE BY ENZYMATIC
HYDROLYSIS
Abstract
Response surface methodology was applied as a valuable tool for the
optimization of the extraction of tocopherols from palm fatty acid
distillate. The extraction procedure and experimental set-up improved
the yield of total tocopherol from an initial value of 0.39% to 4.67%.
It was found that extraction by enzymatic hydrolysis followed by
neutralization increased the yield of total tocopherol from palm fatty
acid distillate. In the optimisation approach, the central composite
design was employed as a means of experimental set-up, as analysis of
variance and several correlation functions were statistical tools
applied in the optimisation of process conditions of enzymatic
hydrolysis of palm fatty acid distillate. Water weight of 60.604
%(v/w), lipase weight of 7.130 %(w/w) and reaction time of 2.713 hrs
gave the best (at optimized state) experimental protocol for the
enzymatic hydrolysis PFAD in terms of yield of total tocopherol (as
vitamin E) with a desirability of unity.