PSEUDOMONAS-CEPACIA LIPASE - ESTERIFICATION REACTIONS IN AOT MICROEMULSION SYSTEMS

The activity of purified Pseudomonas cepacia lipase has been investiga ted in esterification reactions of various aliphatic alcohols with nat ural fatty acids. The reactions were carried out in microemulsions for med in isooctane by bis(2ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate sodium salt (AOT). The optima pH, T and water content (w(o)) for the enzyme activity in t his type of microemulsions have been determined. Studies on the effect of various fatty acids and alcohols on the enzyme specificity have sh own a preference of this lipase for palmitic and caprylic acid as well as for propanol, while reactions involving cyclic alcohols can not be catalyzed at all. The differences on the behavior of this lipase as c ompared to other lipases studied in microemulsion systems as well as i n other systems are discussed.