REMOVAL OF WATER PRODUCED FROM LIPASE-CATALYZED ESTERIFICATION IN ORGANIC-SOLVENT BY PERVAPORATION

Esterification of oleic acid with n-butanol in the presence of Lipozym e(R) was carried out at 25 degrees C in isooctane with various initial water activities. Initial reaction rate as well as equilibrium conver sion decreased at high initial water activity, Therefore, removal of w ater present in the reaction mixtures was essential. A pervaporation p rocess was applied to the lipase-catalyzed synthesis of n-butyl oleate to remove water. Pervaporation selectively separated water from the r eaction mixture using a nonporous polymeric membrane, cellulose acetat e. Therefore, pervaporation is potentially applicable to remove the wa ter produced from various enzymatic processes, such as synthesis of va rious esters, peptides, and glycosides in a solvent system as well as in a solvent-free system. (C) 1995 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.