ENZYMATIC TRANSESTERIFICATION OF RAPESEED OIL AND LAURIC ACID IN A CONTINUOUS REACTOR

The optimum conditions for enzymatic transesterification of rapeseed o il and lauric acid in a fixed-bed reactor were studied. No solvent was used in the reaction mixture. A small amount of water was dissolved i n the substrate mixture to maintain the activity of the enzyme at as h igh a level as possible. For maximum yield, the transesterification wa s performed with a residence time of about 20 min at a water content i n the range of 0.1 to 0.2% and at the lowest possible temperature.