Optimization of the lipase mediated epoxidation of monoterpenes using the design of experiments-Taguchi method

- Traditional lipase mediated epoxidation was extended for monoterpenes.
- Design of experiments-Taguchi method used to optimize the process.
- Hydrogen peroxide was determined to be the most important parameter.
- Simple and easy product purification protocol developed.

This work deals with the optimization of the Candida antartica lipase B (CALB) mediated epoxidation of monoterpenes by using the design of experiments (DoE) working with the Taguchi Method. Epoxides are essential organic intermediates that find various industrial applications making the epoxidation one of the most investigated processes in chemical industry. As many as 8 parameters such as the reaction medium, carboxylic acid type, carboxylic acid concentration, temperature, monoterpene type, monoterpene concentration, hydrogen peroxide concentration and amount of lipase were optimized using as less as 18 runs in triplicates (54 runs). As a result, the hydrogen peroxide concentration used was found to be the most influential parameter of this process while the type of monoterpene was least influential. Scaling up of the reaction conditions according to the findings of the optimization achieved full conversion in less than 6 h. In addition, a purification process for the epoxides was developed leading to an isolated yield of ca. 72.3%, 88.8% and 62.5% for α-pinene, 3-carene and limonene, respectively.

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