Lipase catalyzed alcoholysis of sunflower oil

Abstract

Abstract Lipase‐catalyzed alcoholysis of sunflower oil under anhydrous conditions was examined. Lipases from Pseudomonas fluorescens and 2 immobilized enzymes from Mucor miehei and a Candida sp. gave sufficient conversion with petroleum ether as the solvent, even when methanol and ethanol were used. The overall content of tri‐, di‐ and monoglycerides, as well as the corresponding alkyl esters, was measured. Because Pseudomonas lipase led to almost quantitative esterification, further studies were carried out with that enzyme varying the amounts of enzyme or the alcohols. Acceptable conversions were achieved even without solvent. Reaction rates of alcoholysis with 5 homologous alcohols, with or without the addition of water, were measured, and in all cases the reaction rates increased with higher chain length of the alcohol. In the case of methanol the highest rate was obtained without any addition of water, but a significantly higher rate was observed with 96% ethanol as opposed to absolute ethanol. The main advantages of lipasecatalyzed, nonaqueous alcoholysis as compared to classical procedures are the mild reaction conditions, the isolation of glycerin without further purification and without the formation of chemical waste, and the ability of lipases to catalyze the esterification of free fatty acids.