The immobilization of lipase on Sepabeads: Coupling, characterization and application in geranyl butyrate synthesis in a low aqueous system

Abstract

Lipase from Candida rugosa immobilized on Sepabeads EC-EP was shown to catalyze the esterification of geraniol with butyric acid in a predominantly organic system. The immobilization procedure was adjusted to optimize the enzyme activity and the immobilized enzyme was then used for a geranyl butyrate synthesis as a study model. The immobilized enzyme showed favorable performances in an aqueous system and increased the stability in the presence of organic solvents. The response surface methodology and a 5-level-5-factor central composite rotatable design were performed to identify the factors that influence the ester production and to verify whether any changes should be made in their settings to improve this reaction. The initial water content, the reaction temperature, the enzyme concentration, acid/alcohol molar ratio and time of addition of molecular sieves were the variables investigated. The production of the ester was optimized and an ester production response equation was obtained, making it possible to predict ester yields from the known values of the five main factors. The temperature during the esterification reaction was identified as the factor having the greatest impact on the ester yield.