Lipase-catalyzed condensation of erythritol and medium-chain fatty acids in acetonitrile with low water content

Erythritol could be esterified with medium-chain fatty acids with carbon numbers of 7 to 12 by immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica in acetonitrile with low water content at 50 degrees C. The highest equilibrium conversion, 50%, of erythritol-lauric acid ester was achieved at a water content of about 1% (v/v). It was shown that the activity coefficients of the substrates, product and water would play an important role in determination of the equilibrium conversion. Continuous production of erythritol-lauric acid ester at a conversion of ca. 70% was realized using a packed-bed reactor without significant lowering of the conversion for at least 10 days. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.