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Continuous lipase‐catalyzed synthesis of hexyl laurate in a packed‐bed reactor: optimization of the reaction conditions in a solvent‐free system
Author(s) -
Ju HenYi,
Yang ChengKang,
Yen YueHorng,
Shieh ChwenJen
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.1998
Subject(s) - lauric acid , rhizomucor miehei , box–behnken design , chemistry , lipase , catalysis , response surface methodology , solvent , chromatography , reaction rate , packed bed , volumetric flow rate , organic chemistry , nuclear chemistry , triacylglycerol lipase , fatty acid , enzyme , physics , quantum mechanics
BACKGROUND: Hexyl laurate has been applied widely in cosmetic industries and is synthesized by chemical methods with problems of cost, environmental pollution, and by‐products. In this study, Lipozyme ® IM77 (from Rhizomucor miehei ) was used to catalyze the direct‐esterification of hexanol and lauric acid in a solvent‐free system by utilizing a continuous packed‐bed reactor, wherein the aforementioned difficulties could be overcome. Response surface methodology (RSM) and three‐level‐three‐factor Box‐Behnken design were employed to evaluate the effects of synthesis parameters, such as reaction temperature (45–65 °C), mixture flow rate (0.25–0.75 mL min −1 ) and concentration of lauric acid (100–300 mmol L −1 ) on the production rate (µmol min −1 ) of hexyl laurate by direct esterification. RESULTS: The production rate was affected significantly by the mixture flow rate and lauric acid concentration. On the basis of ridge‐max analysis, the optimum synthesis conditions for hexyl laurate were as follows: 81.58 ± 1.76 µmol min −1 at 55 °C, 0.5 mL min −1 flow rate and 0.3 mol L −1 lauric acid. CONCLUSION: The lipase‐catalyzed synthesis of hexyl laurate by Lipozyme ® IM‐77 in a continuous packed‐bed bioreactor and solvent‐free system was successfully developed; optimization of the reaction parameters was obtained by Box–Behnken design and RSM. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry