High Yield of Wax Ester Synthesized from Cetyl Alcohol and Octanoic Acid by Lipozyme RMIM and Novozym 435

• Published in: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Main Authors: Chwen-Jen Shieh, Hsin-Hung Chen, Yung-Chuan Liu, Jiann-Hwa Chen, Chia-Hung Kuo
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2012
• Subjects: optimization; wax esters; lipase; esterification; Rhizomucor miehei; Candida antarctica; Biology (General); QH301-705.5; Chemistry; QD1-999; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms130911694; https://doaj.org/article/f8538cc2f4804936b100845749b0e997

Wax esters are long-chain esters that have been widely applied in premium lubricants, parting agents, antifoaming agents and cosmetics. In this study, the biocatalytic preparation of a specific wax ester, cetyl octanoate, is performed in n-hexane using two commercial immobilized lipases, i.e., Lipozyme® RMIM (Rhizomucor miehei) and Novozym® 435 (Candida antarctica). Response surface methodology (RSM) and 5-level-4-factor central composite rotatable design (CCRD) are employed to evaluate the effects of reaction time (1–5 h), reaction temperature (45–65 °C), substrate molar ratio (1–3:1), and enzyme amount (10%–50%) on the yield of cetyl octanoate. Using RSM to optimize the reaction, the maximum yields reached 94% and 98% using Lipozyme® RMIM and Novozym® 435, respectively. The optimum conditions for synthesis of cetyl octanoate by both lipases are established and compared. Novozym® 435 proves to be a more efficient biocatalyst than Lipozyme® RMIM.