Esterification of Short Chain Organic Acids with Alcohols by a Lipase Microencapsulated in Reversed Micelles

Abstract

A Mucor miehei lipase was used to catalyse the esterification reaction between propionic acid and oleyl alcohol in reversed micelles of AOT in isooctane. Small-scale model studies were performed to study the influence of various parameters on the formation of oleyl propionate by this lipase. The maximum synthetic activity was obtained at w₀ = 4.0. At high temperatures (65°C) the enzyme displays a better stability for a low water content (w₀ = 3.3). The specificity of lipase was influenced by the solubilized water in the reversed micelles.

Key Words:

• Reversed micelles
• biocatalysis in organic media
• esterification
• lipases