CHEMICAL AND ENZYMATIC ESTER HYDROLYSIS IN A WINSOR-I SYSTEM

Alkaline- and lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyldecanoate ha ve been performed in a Winsor I type microemulsion. The reaction occur red in the lower-phase oil-in-water microemulsion. After the reaction was complete a Winsor I-->III transition was induced by a rise in temp erature. The products formed, 4-nitrophenol and decanoic acid, partiti oned into the upper oil phase and could easily be obtained by separati on of this phase and evaporation of the solvent. The surfactant and th e enzyme (in the case of the lipase-catalyzed reaction) resided in the middle-phase microemulsion and could be reused. (C) 1997 Elsevier Sci ence B.V.