Lipase-catalysed transesterification of coconut oil with fusel alcohols in a solvent-free system

摘要

The conversion of coconut oil and fuse! alcohols, the sustainable and low-cost natural materials, to valu-able products through Lipozyme TL IM-catalysed transesterification was investigated in a solvent-free system. Flavour esters, especially the octanoic acid esters (ethyl-, butyl-, isobutyl-, propyl- and (iso)amyl octanoate), were formed during the transesterification reactions. The reaction parameters were opti-mised as follows: molar ratio of 3.0:1 (alcohol to oil), enzyme loading of 15% wt/wt, reaction temperature of 23 ℃, shaking speed of 130 rpm, and reaction time of 20 h. Further, the operational stability of Upo-zyme TL IM was improved through washing with solvents, after which the enzyme could be continuously used for at least 100 h within 5 batches' reactions without significant loss of activity. The results indicate that coconut oil and fusel alcohols can be effectively converted to valuable flavour esters through the Lipozyme TL IM-catalysed transesterification.