ENZYMATIC FATTY ESTER SYNTHESIS

Fatty ester synthesis with immobilized 1,3-specific lipase from Mucor miehei is described. 1,2-Isopropylidene glycerol produced by condensation of glycerol with acetone was esterified with oleic acid in the presence of a Mucor miehei lipase (Lipozyme(TM)) to obtain 1,2-isopropylidene-3-oleoyl glycerol. The effects of various process parameters (temperature and pressure) and various ratios (enzyme/substrate) have been investigated to determine optimal conditions for the esterification process. The highest conversion of oleic acid (80% w/w) was obtained at 55-degrees-C and 0.057 bar, while the optimal addition of lipase to substrate was determined to be 0.096 g per gram of reaction mixture. The esterification can be modeled successfully as a reverse second-order reaction. Thermodynamic properties of the reaction system at 55-degrees-C and 0.057 bar also were determined. Activation energy was 20.82 kJ/mole, entropy of activation -0,26 kJ/(K mole) and free energy of activation was 103.32 kJ/mole.