Preparation of 2-ethylhexyl fatty ester from camellia seed oil by Candida rugosa-lipase catalyzed esterification

Abstract: In our previous study, 2-ethylhexyl palmitate from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid was synthesized in solvent-free system by esterification using an immobilized lipase prepared from Eversa Transform 2.0 lipase, which is genetically modified enzyme. In the present study, however, 2-ethylhexyl fatty ester (2-EHFE) was synthesized from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and a fatty acid via lipase-catalyzed esterification using Candida rugosa lipase (Lipase OF; commercial name), which is non-genetically modified enzyme. The fatty acid used in this study was obtained from camellia seed oil, which was traditionally used as cosmetics for hair and skin, by saponification. Lipase OF showed the highest activity in the synthesize 2-EHFE compared to the three commercial lipases, which are Lipozyme TL IM, Lipozyme RM IM, and Novozym 435. The effects of temperature and enzyme loading on the synthesis of 2-EHFE were investigated. The optimum conditions were a temperature of 40^oC, and an enzyme loading of 4%. The maximum conversion was approximately 95% after 10 h under the optimum conditions. In addition, reaction rate was improved by stepwise addition of 2-ethylhexyl alcohol.