Process optimization of lipase catalyzed synthesis of diesters in a packed bed reactor

• Lipase catalysed synthesis of wax esters like dibehenyl adipate and dibehenyl sebacate were investigated.
• Enzyme NS 435 was found to be the most effective biocatalyst.
• 75% of adipic acid and 83% of sebacic acid were converted to their behenyl esters.
• Maximum amount of diesters were produced.
• 89% of dibehenyl adipate and 91% of dibehenyl sebacate were isolated from the packed bed reactor.

Wax esters are fine chemicals which are produced in low volume but are highly priced with varied industrial applications. They are formulated in numerous personal care products due to their excellent emollient properties. The conventional technology for the preparation of wax esters are based on reaction between long chain carboxylic acids and alcohols at high temperatures in presence of a strong catalyst. This process is unselective and the removal of used catalyst and byproducts requires several stages which increases the production cost. Enzyme technology is an alternative which is eco friendly and requires lesser stages of purification. The present study aims at the enzymatic preparation of wax esters like dibehenyl adipate and dibehenyl sebacate in presence of immobilized lipases from different microbial origin e.g., RM-IM, TL IM, NS40013 and NS 435. Various reaction parameters like temperature, reaction time, mole ratio, enzyme concentration and solvent selection were optimized. The work clearly indicates NS 435 as the most efficient enzyme and can be recycled for 20 times without significant change in product quality. Trial run was given in a packed bed bioreactor using NS435 which produced 89% and 91% of dibehenyl adipate and dibehenyl sebacate, respectively.

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