Poster Presentation 1B-47

Production of Monolaurin via Glycerolysis of Trilaurin Catalyzed by Commercial Immobilized Lipase

Rodolfo M. da S. Ramos¹, Mônica A. P. da Silva² and Marta A.P. Langone^1*

¹Instituto de Química

Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro

Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, PHLC, sl. 427

Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, CEP 20559-900, Brazil

Phone: (+55) 21 2587-7322 r 46

Fax: (+55) 21 2587-7227

E-mail: langonem@uerj.br

²Escola de Química

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

Monolaurin is a non-ionic surfactant with important applications in pharmaceutic, food and cosmetics production. The potential of monolaurin and other monoglycerides to inhibit the growth of bacterial spores, vegetative cells, fungus and virus has recently been demonstrated. In the last decade, many approaches to the enzymatic synthesis of monoglycerides using lipase have been investigated. In this work, the synthesis of monolaurin via glycerolysis of trilaurin using immobilized lipase (Lipozyme IM-20, Novo Nordisk A/S) has been studied in a solvent free medium. Experiments were conducted in a 20-mL open batch reactor with constant stirring. The reactions were carried out for 4 h and the nonpolar phase was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC). The effects of glycerol/trilaurin molar ratio (2, 3, 4 and 5), enzyme concentration (1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 % [w/w]), and temperature (50, 55 and 60 ^oC) on monolaurin selectivity and yield were studied. The maximum monolaurin selectivity (37 %) and molar fraction (20 %) were achieved for a molar ratio equal to or higher than 3.0, with Lipozyme at 4.5 and 6.0 % (w/w), at 50 ^oC. Temperature had a great effect on the reaction performance, affecting both the trilaurin conversion and monolaurin molar fraction.