NOVEL PREPARATION METHOD FOR SURFACTANT-LIPASE COMPLEXES UTILIZING WATER-IN-OIL EMULSIONS

A novel preparation method for surfactant-lipase complexes has been de veloped utilizing water in oil emulsions. In order to optimize the pre paration conditions, we have investigated the effects of several opera tional parameters on the enzymatic activity of the surfactant-lipase c omplexes in organic media. When a nonionic surfactant was employed und er optimal preparation conditions [alkaline pH 8-10, organic/aqueous = 90/10 (v/v), concentration of surfactant, 10 mM], the surfactant-lipa se complex efficiently catalyzed the esterification of benzyl alcohol with lauric acid in organic media. The esterification rate of the surf actant-lipase complex was increased over 16-fold relative to the nativ e powder lipase. Furthermore, the lipase complex showed high storage s tability. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.