Provided is a preparation process of diglycerides which comprises reacting
a fatty acid or lower alkyl ester thereof with glycerin in the presence
of an immobilized partial glyceride lipase while removing water, which is
generated upon reaction, out of the system. The reaction is preferably
terminated when the acid value (AV) of the reaction mixture satisfies the
following range: 50R-60>AV>70R-150 (with the proviso that AV>0).
The present process makes it possible to efficiently prepare a high
purity of diglycerides without impairing lipase activity even under
reduced pressure. The present process is effective without being
influenced by variations in reaction conditions such as fatty
acid/glycerin ratio, reaction temperature or enzyme concentration.
Particularly, even when the fatty acid/glycerin ratio is high, a high
purity of diglycerides can be produced at a high reaction yield.