APPLICATION OF FACTORIAL DESIGN TO THE STUDY OF TRANSESTERIFICATION REACTIONS USING CUTINASE IN AOT-REVERSED MICELLES

Fusarium solani pisi recombinant cutinase, solubilized in bis(2-ethylh exyl) sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT)/ isooctane-reversed micelles, was us ed to catalyze the transesterification reaction of butyl acetate with hexanol. Some relevant parameters for the cutinase activity such as th e amount of water, temperature, buffer molarity, pH, surfactant, and h exanol and butyl acetate concentrations were studied in two factorial designs. The experimental planning included 2((5-1)) and 2((3)) factor ial designs expanded further to a central composite design (CCD) accor ding to Box(1) and Barker.(2) By knowing the system response to the ex perimental design, the effects of each factor were calculated and its interactions were determined. The response surface methodology was app lied to the optimization of the transesterification in the system desc ribed. Cutinase displayed high activities for 490 mM hexanol and a tem perature around 40-50 degrees C. The molar ratio of water to surfactan t, Wo, greatly influenced the activity and showed an optimum range bet ween 5-8. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.