Solvent-free esterification of oleic acid and oleyl alcohol using membrane reactor and lipase-surfactant complex

Abstract

Oleyl alcohol and oleic acid were esterified using lipase-surfactant complex (LSC) in a solvent-free reaction system. LSC showed a higher reaction rate than the crude enzyme in the reaction system. Optimum LSC activity was obtained at 180 mg/g-solution water addition. A preliminary study of the membrane reactor system using a microfiltration membrane and a solvent-free reaction was performed, and the feasibility of the reactor system was confirmed.