Enzymatic synthesis of glycerol ester hydrolyzed coconut oil fatty acid and lauric acid as emulsifier and antimicrobial compound

Abstract

Mono and diglycerol fatty acids esters have an activity as nonionic emulsifiers. In this study, mono and diglycerol-coconut oil fatty acid or lauric acid ester were enzymatically synthesized using Candida rugosa lipase EC. 3.1.1.3. The optimum reaction condition was carried out by using mole ratio variations of fatty acids to glycerol at 1:4 and gave the highest conversion percentage of about 61 % for glycerol-lauric acid ester and 55% for glycerol coconut oil fatty acid ester. The product identification using FT-IR showed the absorption peak of C=O ester at wave number 1748 cm−1 for both glycerol-lauric acid and glycerol-coconut oil fatty acid esters. Based on simple emulsion test, both types of ester have the activity as emulsifiers for water-in-oil emulsion type and remains stable for up to 24 hours. The antimicrobial activity assay using disc diffusion method against bacteria Propionibacterium acne and Staphylococcus epidermidis showed that glycerol-laurate ester has a stronger activity than glycerol-coconut oil fatty acid esters. At the same concentration, glycerol-coconut oil fatty acid esters showed a medium activity against Proponibacterium acne and weak antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis.