THE INFLUENCE OF WATER ON THE SYNTHESIS OF NORMAL-BUTYL OLEATE BY IMMOBILIZED MUCOR-MIEHEI LIPASE

The influence of initial water concentration on the synthesis of n-butyl oleate was investigated. The synthesis was done with immobilized Mucor miehei lipase-Lypozyme™-at various reaction conditions. The activity of the enzyme is lower at higher amounts of water. Initial reaction rates, as well as equilibrium conversion, increase at low initial water concentration. Optimal water concentration for the activity of immobilized lipase is temperature dependent at the pressure of 1 bar. Low initial water concentration barely effects equilibrium esterification at 0.032 bar. At high initial water concentrations equilibrium conversion, as well as initial reaction rates, decrease at both pressures. © 1990 AOCS Press.