Lipase-Catalyzed Synthesis of Butyl Butyrate by Alcoholysis in an Integrated Liquid-Vapor System

• Published in: Biotechnology progress Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. 750 - 754
• Main Authors: Paiva, Ana L., Van Rossum, Diman, Malcata, F. Xavier
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: USA American Chemical Society 01-05-2003; American Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Subjects: Alcohols - chemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Bioreactors; Biotechnology; Butanols - chemistry; Butyrates - chemical synthesis; Butyrates - chemistry; Butyrates - isolation & purification; Catalysis; Chemical Precipitation; Enzymes, Immobilized - chemistry; Equipment Design; Equipment Failure Analysis; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Lipase - chemistry; Phase Transition; Systems Integration; Alcoholysis; Enzyme; Triacylglycerol lipase; Hydrolases; Integrated system; Esterases; Carboxylic ester hydrolases
• ISSN: 8756-7938; 1520-6033
• DOI: 10.1021/bp0201298

This paper reports experimental work pertaining to alcoholysis between butanol and ethyl butanoate, catalyzed by an immobilized lipase in a liquid‐vapor system where chemical reaction and physical separation are simultaneously carried out. The processing setup was tested for various compositions of the starting feedstock and operated under reduced pressure. Samples were withdrawn both from the boiler and the condenser, and they were chromatographically assayed for butyl butyrate. The integrated configuration tested is quite effective toward improvement of the final yield of the desired product.