Enzymatic synthesis of n-butyl palmitate in a solvent-free system: RSM optimization and kinetic studies

The present paper demonstrates application of biocatalysis to the synthesis of n-butyl palmitate, a cosmetic emollient ester in a solvent-free system (SFS). Fermase CALB?10000, a commercial Candida antarctica lipase B was used to accomplish the synthesis. In order to evaluate the effect of various process parameters on the synthesis, one factor at a time methodology (OFAT) and response surface methodology (RSM) complimented with central composite design (CCD) were employed. On the basis of the results obtained in one factor at one time studies, temperature, enzyme dose, and molar ratio were chosen as significant parameters and their range was selected for RSM study. The optimized factors suggested by RSM model were, temperature –60.12?°C, enzyme dose –5% w/w, and alcohol: acid ratio –2.25:1. Under these optimized factors, the experimental conversion observed was 91.25% which was in close agreement to the model predicted conversion of 92% and the enzymes were reusable up to four cycles. A separate study was carried out in order to study the effect of palmitic acid on n-butyl palmitate synthesis and to understand the kinetic profile of n-butyl palmitate synthesis reaction. Ordered bi-bi model showed a good experimental fit to the kinetic data.