Continuous synthesis of 6-O-linoleoyl hexose using a packed-bed reactor system with immobilized lipase

6-O-Linoleoyl mannose, glucose and galactose were continuously synthesized in acetone using a packed-bed reactor system with immobilized-lipase from Candida antarctica. The high solubility of mannose in acetone resulted in the highest product concentration among the hexoses tested. The factors affecting the product concentration such as the linoleic acid concentration in the feed, the residence time in the reactor and the reaction temperature were examined. Although the product concentration was higher at the higher linoleic acid concentration, a concentration four times the solubility of hexose at a given temperature seemed to be proper. The product concentration became almost constant at a residence time in the reactor longer than 20 min. Linoleoyl mannose was continuously synthesized at 60 and 70 °C, and the operation at 60 °C was indicated to be preferable to that at 70 °C for long-term steady synthesis.