LIPASE-CATALYZED ESTERIFICATION REACTIONS - EXPERIMENTAL AND MODELINGSTUDIES

A comparative study of supported lipozyme-catalysed esterification of oleic acid with lauryl alcohol, isosorbide and sorbitol in a packed tu bular reactor is described. The reaction rate was highest with lauryl alcohol, followed by isosorbide and sorbitol. The esterification react ion between oleic acid and lauryl alcohol was carried out in a tubular recycle reactor and a stirred reactor. Different strategies were used to remove the water formed during the reaction. The rate was found to be highest in the tubular reactor. The reactions were modelled by thr ee bisubstrate models, namely ternary complex random order, Ping-Pong, and Ping-Pong with competitive product inhibition. The third model wa s found to predict the observed behaviour.