Taguchi's robust design method for optimization of lysophosphatidic acid production in an open reactor system

Abstract

The determination of appropriate parameters and parameter conditions is very important for the optimization of production of target materials. Taguchi's method has been used widely as the basis for development trials and optimization during industrial process design. Reaction variables which influence product yield are easily determined and their effects are revealed by just a few reactions, negating the need for extensive experimental investigation. There are usually some factors that are responsible for variations in process characteristics, so called noise factors. Controlling noise factors is very costly and difficult or impossible. Taguchi's experimental design method was examined to determine the control factors level that is less sensitive to the changes in environmental conditions and other noise factors without control of noise factors. In this study, optimization of lipase-catalyzed production of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) which has various physiological functions was performed by Taguchi's method. We obtained LPA yields (66.5%) with low variance (5.32) at 400 RPM, molar ratio of 40:3 (mmol) (fatty acid:G-3-P), 48 h, and 50 degrees C. Thus, bioactive LPA with a desired fatty acid moiety could be produced with high yields and low variance despite various environmental noise factors.