inhibition of the lipase by the products of the reaction to carry the hydrolysis above 30 it is preferred to remove the used oat caryopses and add a fresh batch of oat caryopses by using successive batches of oats in this manner the hydrolysis can be carried to at least 50 of the oil in optimized embodiments from 75 to 90 or higher percent of the oil can be hydrolyzed in the system described the mechanism of the reaction has advantageous consequences in effect each oat caryopses functions as a self contained bioreactor there is an internal water phase which extends to the surface of the oat caryopses where it comes in contact with the external oil phase containing the triglyceride reactant this provides an oil water interface around each caryopses since the lipase is concentrated near the outer surfaces of the caryopses bound enzyme is present near the oil water interface a further consequence is that the glycerol produced in the reaction tends to be preferentially absorbed within the caryopses while the fatty acids produced in the reaction disperses into the external oil phase this partitioning occurs automatically and continuously as the contacting is carried out at the conclusion of the contacting as much as 90 of the glycerol may be contained within the caryopses while as much as 95 of the fatty acids are in the external oil phase it has been found that the oat lipase hydrolyzes all three positions of glycerol consequently there is little accumulation of mono or di glyceride in the lipid phase varieties do vary significantly in the amount of lipase they contain for the purpose.