Lipid‐lipase interactions. 2. A new method for the assay of lipase activity

A simplified procedure for the measurement of activity was developed for lipases (EC 3.1.1.3) from Chromobacterium viscosum, Candida rugosa, Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus arrhizus . It differs from existing procedures in that olive oil, refined with a bleaching clay, was used as the substrate, periodic sonication was applied to promote efficient emulsification, the hydrolysis time was extended to 1 hr, and no additive such as protective colloids and surfactants were used. The activity was determined arbitrarily for that amount of lipase required to bring about 24% hydrolysis/hr at room temperature Unlike currently used assay procedures, the present method gives results which are highly reproducible with a maximum standard deviation of 2.5% and, more commonly, less than 1.00%.