Description:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>The γ‐linolenic acid (<jats:italic>Z,Z,Z</jats:italic>‐6,9,12‐octadecatrienoic acid, GLA) present in borage oil free fatty acids was concentrated in esterification reactions that were catalyzed by several preparations of the acyl‐specific lipase of<jats:italic>Geotrichum candidum</jats:italic>. In this manner, a 95% recovery of the GLA originally present in borage oil (25% GLA) was obtained as a highly enriched fatty acid fraction with a GLA content of >70%. Other fatty acids concentrated in this fraction were the monounsaturated fatty acids with chainlengths of C‐20 and longer that were present in the oil. An immobilized preparation of<jats:italic>G. candidum</jats:italic> on silica gel also was used for the enrichment of GLA in borage oil. In this instance, a 75% recovery of GLA was obtained, and the supported lipase was reusable (three cycles) with minimal loss in activity.</jats:p>