Isoamyl acetate synthesis in imidazolium-based ionic liquids using packed bed enzyme microreactor

► Differently substituted imidazolium-based ionic liquids were synthesized. ► 19 Ionic liquids were screened as solvents for lipase-catalyzed esterification. ► [C7mmim][Tf2N] was selected as the best medium for isoamyl acetate synthesis. ► Further process optimization was accomplished in a packed bed microbioreactor. ► A volumetric productivity of 61 mmol l−1 min−1 of isoamyl acetate was achieved.