Enzymatic Synthesis of Fatty Esters by Lipase from Porcine Pancreas

Abstract

An enzymatic synthesis of aliphatic esters of butyric acid in the waterless environment of organic solvent hexane was carried out with use of the enzyme preparation lipase from porcine pancreas. Aliphatic alcohols with different length of hydrocarbon radical (C4-C11) were used as substrates. Conversion of the esters depending on time of the process and concentration of the enzyme was defined at 30°C of the process. It was found that an increase in length of the hydro carbonic radical of alcohol and branching of a chain complicated enzymatic synthesis. For the lower alcohols the conversion reach more than 90%.