Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2014, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (4): 553-559.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(14)60053-X

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Investigation of Lipozyme TL IM-catalyzed transesterification using ultraviolet spectrophotometric assay

Xianfeng Fu, Jianyong Zheng, Xiangxian Ying, Hongde Yan, Zhao Wang   

  1. College of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, Zhejiang, China
  • Received:2013-11-15 Revised:2014-01-07 Online:2014-03-20 Published:2014-03-21
  • Supported by:

    This work was financially supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program, 2011AA02A210).

Abstract:

A novel ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometric method for evaluating lipase transesterification activity in organic solvents is described. The model reaction was lipase-catalyzed transesterification between p-nitrophenyl palmitate (pNPP) and n-butanol in n-hexane at 30 ℃. The conversion of pNPP to p-nitrophenol was monitored by measuring UV absorbance changes at 310 nm. Seven commercial lipases were tested using this method, and the results were similar to those obtained using gas chromatography. The UV spectrophotometric method was used to investigate the kinetics of the Lipozyme TL IM-catalyzed reaction of pNPP, and the correlation between synthetic activity and biocatalyst concentration was determined. The method was also used to investigate the Lipozyme TL IM-catalyzed transesterification properties, namely solvent effect, acyl acceptor specificity, alcohol tolerance, optimum reaction temperature, and thermostability.

Key words: Lipase, Lipozyme TL IM, Transesterification activity, Ultraviolet spectrophotometric assay, p-Nitrophenyl palmitate, Organic solvent