EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT APPROACHES FOR LIPASE-CATALYZED SYNTHESIS OF CITRONELLYL ACETATE

Three different approaches for lipase catalysed synthesis of citronell yl acetate by a commercial available immobilized lipase have been stud ied: a) direct esterification reaction of citronellol with acetic acid ; b) alcoholysis of butyl acetate with citronellol and c) transesterif ication of citronellyl butyrate with butylacetate. Heptane was used as solvent for all the experiments. The extent of reaction occurred in t he order alcoholysis > transesterification > esterification. Substrate partitioning between the immobilization support and the organic mediu m seems to greatly influence the catalytic performance of this enzyme preparation. Production of citronellyl acetate, was found to be depend ent on the partition coefficient of the acyl donor which account the g reatest value for the acetic acid.