Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
626608 | Desalination | 2009 | 6 Pages |
In this paper the enzymatic manufacture of glycerol monostearate was studied in high polar organic solvents. Water produced during the reaction has a disadvantageous effect on the reaction rate and enzyme activity. This byproduct water was removed and the water content was kept constant using a pervaporation unit which could be integrated on-line with the reaction system. The best yield (90%) after 6 h reaction time was achieved at 40°C, at seven-fold glycerol excess using dioxane as solvent. The enzymatic esterification reaction could be described by the Random Bi–Bi mechanism. A mathematical model have been estimated and experimentally verified by a set of experiments with varying and constant water contents. The experiments both in batch and integrated system (esterification–pervaporation) could be described with good accuracy by the proposed model.