Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of monoacylglycerol in a homogeneous system

Biotechnol Lett. 2003 Apr;25(8):641-4. doi: 10.1023/a:1023016215537.

Abstract

The 1,3-regiospecifique lipase, Lipozyme IM, catalyzed the esterification of lauric acid and glycerol in a homogeneous system. To overcome the drawback of the insolubility of glycerol in hexane, which is extensively used in enzymatic synthesis, a mixture of n-hexane/tert-butanol (1:1, v/v) was used leading to a monophasic system. The conversion of lauric acid into monolaurin was 65% in 8 h, when a molar ratio of glycerol to fatty acid (5:1) was used with the fatty acid at 0.1 M, and the phenomenon of acyl migration was minimized.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Esterification
  • Glycerides / chemical synthesis*
  • Glycerol / chemistry*
  • Laurates / chemical synthesis
  • Lauric Acids / chemistry*
  • Lipase / chemistry*
  • Monoglycerides
  • Solvents / chemistry

Substances

  • Glycerides
  • Laurates
  • Lauric Acids
  • Monoglycerides
  • Solvents
  • lauric acid
  • monolaurin
  • Lipozyme
  • Lipase
  • Glycerol