Application of factorial design to the study of transesterification reactions using cutinase in AOT-reversed micelles

Abstract

Fusarium solani pisi recombinant cutinase, solubilized in bis(2-ethylhexyl) sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT)/isooctane-reversed micelles, was used to catalyze the transesterification reaction of butyl acetate with hexanol. Some relevant parameters for the cutinase activity such as the amount of water, temperature, buffer molarity, pH, surfactant, and hexanol and butyl acetate concentrations were studied in two factorial designs. The experimental planning included 2 (5−1) and 2 (3) factorial designs expanded further to a central composite design (CCD) according to Box 1 and Barker. 2 By knowing the system response to the experimental design, the effects of each factor were calculated and its interactions were determined. The response surface methodology was applied to the optimization of the transesterification in the system described. Cutinase displayed high activities for 490 mM hexanol and a temperature around 40–50°C. The molar ratio of water to surfactant, Wo, greatly influenced the activity and showed an optimum range between 5–8.