Esterification Synthesis of Ethyl Oleate in Solvent-Free
System Catalyzed by Lipase Membrane
from Fermentation Broth
Wei-Na Li
&
Bi-Qiang Chen
&
Tian-Wei Tan
Received: 1 January 2010 / Revised: 28 May 2010 / Accepted: 22 June 2010 /
Published online: 28 July 2010
#
Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010
Abstract In this study, the immobilized lipase was prepared by fabric membrane
adsorption in fermentation broth. The lipase immobilization method in fermentation broth
was optimized on broth activity units and pH adjustments. The viscose fermentation broth
can be used with a certain percentage of dilution based on the original broth activity units.
The fermentation broth can be processed directly without pH adjustment. In addition, the
oleic acid ethyl ester production in solvent-free system catalyzed by the immobilized lipase
was optimized. The molar ratio of ethanol to oil acid, the enzyme amount, the molecular
amount, and the temperature were 1:1, 12% (w/w), 9% (w/w)(based the total amount of
reaction mixture), and 30 °C, respectively. Finally, the optimal condition afforded at least
19 reuse numbers with esterification rate above 80% under stepwise addition of ethanol.
Due to simple lipase immobilization preparation, acceptable esterification result during
long-time batch reactions and lower cost; the whole process was suitable for industrial ethyl
oleate production.
Keywords Candida sp. 99–125
.
Immobilized lipase membrane
.
Fermentation broth
.
Esterification
.
Oleic acid
.
Solvent-free system
Introduction
As a traditional chemical method of alternative technologies and green energy-saving
emission reduction, enzyme-catalyzed synthesis of synthetic chemicals and fuels becomes
an important development direction [1]. Biodiesel are methyl or ethyl esters derived from
fatty acid through esterification or transesterification [2, 3]. Enzymatic biodiesel production
has been investigated intensively. Lai et al. [4] studied lipase-catalyzed production of
biodiesel from rice bran oil. Ruzich and Bassi [5] investigated the enzymatic biodiesel
production using ionic liquid as a co-solvent. Recently, the methanolysis of soybean oil to
Appl Biochem Biotechnol (2011) 163:102–111
DOI 10.1007/s12010-010-9020-2
W.-N. Li
:
B.-Q. Chen
:
T.-W. Tan (*)
Beijing Key Lab of Bioprocess, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029,
People’s Republic of China
e-mail: twtan@mail.buct.edu.cn