Enzymatic synthesis of wax esters from rapeseed fatty acid methyl esters and a fatty alcohol

Wax esters were transesterified from fatty acid methyl esters of rapeseed and a fatty alcohol (1‐hexadecanol, 16:0). The amounts of both the substrates were fixed to 0.1 mmol and an immobilized enzyme, Lipozyme, was used as catalyst. The experiment was performed following a statistic central composite design with five variables. The enzyme/lipid ratio was varied between 0.3–0.9 of the substrate weight and the enzyme was equilibrated to different water activities varying from 0.11 to 0.44. A temperature range of 50–80°C was investigated and the reaction time lasted up to 40 min. A solvent, isooctane, constituted 0–30% of the substrate weight. The first experimental series was performed in small closed test tubes. In the second series the caps of the test tubes were off to evaporate the methanol produced during the reaction. The highest initial reaction rate was 9.6 gwax esters/genzyme · h. It appeared when: the enzyme/lipid ratio was low, 0.3, the temperature was high, 80°C; no isooctane was present; and the water activity was below 0.11. The initial reaction rate was independent of the caps on the test tubes. With the large amount of enzyme the yield of wax esters was above 70% after 10 min in both experimental series. In the reaction with caps, the reaction reached equilibrium at 83% after 20 min at 80°C. However, without caps the continuous evaporation of methanol increased the equilibrium constantly, and after 40 min at 80°C a yield of 90% was reached.