The alkyl oleates were prepared by esterification of oleic acid with alkyl alcohols catalyzed by the lipase from Candida sp. 99-125 in solvent-free system. The influence of several factors, including enzyme concentration, temperature, molar ratio between oleic acid and alkyl alcohols and the structures of alcohols, was also investigated. The results indicated that the reactions catalyzed by lipase at 20 oC, in the presence of 5% (w/w) lipase, on the molar ratio of 1:1 between oleic acid and alcohols, afforded products in high yield and showed high selectivity to the alcohols with less hindrance on hydroxyl group. The lipase from Candida sp. 99-125 was identified to be an effective catalyst in the esterification of alcohol and oleic acid at low temperature.
Synthesis and oxidative stability of monoacylglycerols containing polyunsaturated fatty acids by enzymatic glycerolysis in a solvent-free system