LIPASE MEDIATED SYNTHESIS OF LOW-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT FLAVOR ESTERS

Screening 27 commercial lipases showed that enzymes from Candida cylindracea, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Mucor miehei (immobilized) promoted synthesis of selected low molecular weight esters in nonaqueous systems. Maximum production after 24 hr incubation was obtained with substrate concentrations of 0.05 mol/L for isopentyl acetate, 0.2 mol/L for ethyl butyrate and 0.3 mol/L for isopentyl butyrate. Yield of butyl butryate was almost 100% at acid substrate greater than 0.2 mol/L. Substrate inhibition was observed with P. fluorescens lipase but not with C. cylindracea or M. miehei lipases, up to 1 mol/L. Hexane, octane and decane could be used as reaction media except for ethyl butyrate synthesis where hexane was the medium of choice. Poor synthesis was achieved when methylene chloride was used. Copyright © 1990, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved