Esterification of butyric acid with n-butanol: Kinetic study using experimental data and modeling

Present study involves the investigation of the esterification kinetics between butyric acid and n-butanol. This reaction was conducted in a batch reactor, utilizing homogeneous methanesulfonic acid (MSA) catalyst. Response surface methodology (RSM) was conducted prior to the kinetic study using “Design Expert; version-11.0” for finding the causal factors influencing the conversion of butyric acid. Most important factors identified with their limits against conversions (during optimization of the process using RSM) were taken up to critically analyze the effect of them on butyric acid conversion. Concentration and activity-based model of the process were proposed assuming second order reversible reaction scheme using homogeneous MSA catalyst. During the study of non-ideal behavior of the system, UNIFAC model was adapted for assessing the activity coefficients of species present in equilibrated liquid phase. Experimental data were used to evaluate kinetic and thermodynamic parameters such as rate constants, activation energy, enthalpy, and entropy of the system. The endothermic nature of esterification was confirmed by positive value of enthalpy obtained. The effect of various levels of causal variables like temperature (60–90°C), catalyst concentration (0.5–1.5 wt.%), and molar ratio of n-butanol to butyric acid (1–3) on conversion kinetics of butyric acid was investigated during transient and equilibrium phase of the reaction. It has been observed that molar ratio of butanol to butyric acid has the highest influence on the conversion. The rate equation derived offered a kinetic and thermodynamic framework to the generated data. It also exhibits a notable degree of conformity of predicted data to the experimental ones and effectively characterizes the system across different reaction temperatures, reactant molar ratio, and catalyst concentration.     

Esterification of caprylic acid with alcohol over nano-crystalline sulfated zirconia

The catalytic activity of nano-crystalline sulfated zirconia catalyst, prepared by sol–gel method and characterized by various analytical tools, was evaluated for the esterification of caprylic acid with different short chain alcohols. The lower concentration of catalyst (0.5 wt%) exhibited 96–98% conversion of caprylic acid with methanol and 100% selectivity for methyl caprylate at 60 °C. The conversion was decreased with increasing carbon chain of alcohols namely with ethanol, n-propanol and n-butanol at 60 °C but increased significantly (91–98%) at higher reaction temperature. The selectivity for respective alkyl caprylate was observed to be 100% irrespective of the alcohol used. The activity of the catalyst was slightly decreased with successive five reaction cycles due to the water formed during the reaction.     

Enzymatic synthesis and analytical monitoring of terpene ester by <Superscript>1</Superscript>H NMR spectroscopy

Terpene esters of fatty acids have potential applications in food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. The present study focuses on the synthesis of terpene esters of long chain fatty acids catalyzed by Candida antarctica lipase B. Different parameters like temperature, solvent, and enzyme concentration for the esterification of terpene alcohols (geraniol and citronellol) with oleic acid were studied. Maximum conversion (98 %) was found for both terpene esters at 60°C in 2,2,4-trimethylpentane as well as in dry hexane and around 95–97 % in other tested solvents. The reaction was also carried out using stearic and linoleic acid in hexane to study the effects of unsaturation in the substrate in which stearic acid showed the maximum conversion. The reaction was monitored by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Using the peak integration values of methylene protons of terpene and terpene ester of δ = 3.6 and 4.0 for citronellol and δ = 4.2 and 4.6 for geraniol, respectively, percentage conversions of each of the esters were calculated.     

Screening of Food Grade Lipases to be Used in Esterification and Interesterification Reactions of Industrial Interest

Seven food grade commercially available lipases were immobilized by covalent binding on polysiloxane–polyvinyl alcohol (POS-PVA) hybrid composite and screened to mediate reactions of industrial interest. The synthesis of butyl butyrate and the interesterification of tripalmitin with triolein were chosen as model reactions. The highest esterification activity (240.63 μM/g min) was achieved by Candida rugosa lipase, while the highest interesterification yield (31%, in 72 h) was achieved by lipase from Rhizopus oryzae, with the production of about 15 mM of the triglycerides C₅₀ and C₅₂. This lipase also showed a good performance in butyl butyrate synthesis, with an esterification activity of 171.14 μM/g min. The results demonstrated the feasibility of using lipases from C. rugosa for esterification and R. oryzae lipase for both esterification and interesterification reactions.     

Esterification for butyl butyrate formation using Candida cylindracea lipase produced from palm oil mill effluent supplemented medium

The ability of Candida cylindracea lipase produced using palm oil mill effluent (POME) as a basal medium to catalyze the esterification reaction for butyl butyrate formation was investigated. Butyric acid and n-butanol were used as substrates at different molar ratios. Different conversion yields were observed according to the affinity of the produced lipase toward the substrates. The n-butanol to butyric acid molar ratio of 8 and lipase concentration of 75 U/mg gave the highest butyl butyrate formation of 63.33% based on the statistical optimization using face centered central composite design (FCCCD) after 12 h reaction. The esterification potential of the POME based lipase when compared with the commercial lipase from the same strain using the optimum levels was found to show a similar pattern. It can be concluded therefore that the produced lipase possesses appropriate characteristics to be used as a biocatalyst in the esterification reactions for butyl butyrate formation.     

Solubilization of butanol/pentanol/hexanol in dodecylpyridinium chloride

The specific conductivities of dodecylpyridinium chloride have been determinated in water-butanol/pentanol/hexanol solutions in the temperature range of 10 to 35°C, and butanol, pentanol and hexanol concentrations up to 0.05 mol kg^–1. From these data the temperature dependence of the critical micelle concentration, (cmc), was determined. The molar fraction of alcohol in the micelle was estimated using the theory suggested by Motomura et al. for surfactant binary mixtures. The standard Gibbs free energy of solubilization of alcohols in the micelles was worked out using the phase separation model.     

Kinetics of Enzymatic Synthesis of Cinnamyl Butyrate by Immobilized Lipase

This work illustrates the enzymatic synthesis of cinnamyl butyrate by esterification of butyric acid and cinnamyl alcohol. Experiments were performed to study the various operating parameters such as molar ratio, enzyme concentration, temperature, and speed of agitation. Also, the suitable kinetic model for esterification reaction was predicted and the various kinetic parameters were determined. It has been observed that the experimental results agree well with the simulated results obtained by following the ping-pong bi-bi mechanism with dead-end inhibition by both the substrate acid and alcohol. The highest 90% conversion of butyric acid was observed after 12 h at the following reaction conditions: substrate molar ratio 1:2 (butyric acid/cinnamyl alcohol), temperature 50 °C, enzyme loading 2% (with respect to the weight of the substrates), and agitation speed 250 rpm. Diffusional mass transfer limitations between substrate and enzyme surface do not show significant effect on reaction kinetics. Enzyme reusability study reveals that it retains 85% of its catalytic activity after five consecutive cycles.     

Preparation of mono- and diacylglycerols by enzymatic esterification of glycerol with conjugated linoleic acid in hexane

Esterification of glycerol with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) was carried out in hexane. Lipase from Rhizomucor miehei provided a high degree of esterification (80%) in 8 h at 50°C when used at 15% (w/w) in a system containing a 1∶2 molar ratio of glycerol to free fatty acids. Esterification levels >80% were obtained in 8 h at 40°C with 15% (w/w) lipase from Candida antarctica at the same molar ratio of reactants. The extent of esterification of CLA was >90% after 4h of reaction at 50°C with a 5% (w/w) loading of either R. miehei or C. antarctica lipase, together with a 1∶1 molar ratio of substrates. Both enzymes incorporated the original CLA as acylglycerol residues in primarily 1,3-diacylglycerol and 1-monoacylglycerol. The CLA-rich acylglycerols can be employed as emulsifiers or as substitutes for natural fats and oils.     

Enhancing enzymatic properties by the immobilization method

Effects of some immobilized carriers on enzymatic properties have been studied. The following results were obtained: (1) When cholinesterase was immobilized on the hydrophobic carrier with either α-naphthylamine, benzylamine, orp-methylbenzylamine groups, the affinities of immobilized cholinesterase for toxic organophosphors, GB (Isopnopy 1-methylphophonofluoridate) and Vx [o-ethyl-S-(2-diisopnoylomino-thyl) methyl phosphonothiolate], were enhanced 60–90 times and 700–1200 times, respectively, whereas the thermal stability of the immobilized cholinesterase increased to 110%. Approximately 82–88% activity of the immobilized cholinesterase remained after continuously operating for 8 h; and (2) Lipase was immobilized on the carrier that was made up of 6% polyethylenimine, 1% alginate gel, and 1% glutaraldehyde. The initial reaction rate of the esterification of lauric acid with lauric alcohol catalyzed by this kind of immobilized lipase was increased 21 times, as compared to lipase powder. About 72% esterification activity of lipase remained after continuous operating for 10 d.     

Lipase Immobilized on the Hydrophobic Polytetrafluoroethene Membrane with Nonwoven Fabric and Its Application in Intensifying Synthesis of Butyl Oleate

The synthesis of butyl oleate was studied in this paper with immobilized lipase. Five types of membrane were used as support to immobilize Rhizopus arrhizus lipase by following a procedure combining filtration and protein cross-linking. Results showed that hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethene membrane with nonwoven fabric (HO-PTFE-NF) was the favorite choice in terms of higher protein loading, activity, and specific activity of immobilized lipase. The factors including solvent polarity, lipase dosage, concentration, and molar ratio of substrate and temperature were found to have significant influence on conversion. Results showed that hexane (logP = 3.53) was a favorable solvent for the biosynthesis of butyl oleate in our studies. The optimal conditions were experimentally determined of 50 U immobilized lipase, molar ratio of oleic acid to butanol of 1.0, substrate concentration of 0.12 mol/L, temperature of 37 °C, and reaction time of 2 h. The conversion was beyond 91% and decreased slightly after 18 cycles. Lipase immobilization can improve the conversion and the repeated use of immobilized lipase relative to free lipase.     

Characterization of Sol-gel bioencapsulates for ester hydrolysis and synthesis

Candida rugosa lipase was entrapped in silica sol-gel particles prepared by hydrolysis of methyltrimethoxysilane and assayed by p-nitrophenyl palmitate hydrolysis, as a function of pH and temperature, giving pH optima of 7.8 (free enzyme) and 5.0–8.0 (immobilized enzyme). The optimum temperature for the immobilized enzyme (50–55°C) was 19°C higher than for the free enzyme. Thermal, operational, and storage stability were determined with n-butanol and bytyric acid, giving at 45°C a half-life 2.7 times greater for the immobilized enzyme; storage time was 21 d at room temperature. For ester synthesis, the optimum temperature was 47°C, and high esterification conversions were obtained under repeated batch cycles (half-life of 138 h).     

Partial Molar Volumes and Refractions of Aqueous Solutions of Poly[vinyl alcohol]

The partial molar volumes (V ₂) and refractions (R ₂) for poly[vinyl alcohol] (PVOH) in water were determined at 0.00, 5.00, 15.00, 20.00, and 25.00 °C. Each of the partial molar quantities exhibits a small but significant dependence upon concentration which is analyzed using a previously reported model of solvation. This study concludes that the water in the regions surrounding the solute molecules exhibits less hydrogen bonding and as a consequence is denser than the bulk water. In addition, the study finds that the partial molar volume of PVOH at infinite dilution is the simple sum of contributions from its monomer units (–CH₂–CHOH–).     

Thermodynamic investigation of room temperature ionic liquid

The molar heat capacities of the room temperature ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIBF₄) were measured by an adiabatic calorimeter in temperature range from 80 to 390 K. The dependence of the molar heat capacity on temperature is given as a function of the reduced temperature X by polynomial equations, C _P,m (J K^–1 mol^–1)= 195.55+47.230 X–3.1533 X ²+4.0733 X ³+3.9126 X ⁴ [X=(T–125.5)/45.5] for the solid phase (80~171 K), and C _P,m (J K^–1 mol^–1)= 378.62+43.929 X+16.456 X ²–4.6684 X ³–5.5876 X ⁴ [X=(T–285.5)/104.5] for the liquid phase (181~390 K), respectively. According to the polynomial equations and thermodynamic relationship, the values of thermodynamic function of the BMIBF₄ relative to 298.15 K were calculated in temperature range from 80 to 390 K with an interval of 5 K. The glass translation of BMIBF₄ was observed at 176.24 K. Using oxygen-bomb combustion calorimeter, the molar enthalpy of combustion of BMIBF₄ was determined to be Δ_c H _m ^o= – 5335±17 kJ mol^–1. The standard molar enthalpy of formation of BMIBF₄ was evaluated to be Δ_f H _m ^o= –1221.8±4.0 kJ mol^–1 at T=298.150±0.001 K.     

Lipase-catalyzed esterification of selected phenolic acids with linolenyl alcohols in organic solvent media

Lipase-catalyzed esterification of selected phenolic acids with linolenyl alcohols was investigated in selected organic solvent media. The enzyme activity for the esterification of dihydrocaffeic acid with linolenyl alcohol in solvent mixtures of hexane/2-butanone of 75∶25 (v/v) and 65∶35 (v/v) was 0.88 and 0.47 μmol of esterified dihydrocaffeic acid/(g of solid enzyme·min), respectively, with a corresponding esterification yield of 76 and 58%, respectively. However, the esterification of ferulic acid with linolenyl alcohol in the reaction medium of hexane/2-butanone of 65∶35 (v/v) resulted in a low yield (16%). Using the reaction medium of hexane/2-butanone of 75∶25 (v/v), an increase in linolenyl alcohol concentration with a concomitant use of a constant amount of dihydrocaffeic acid resulted in an increase in esterification yield. The highest esterification yield of 99% was obtained with a ratio of dihydrocaffeic acid to linolenyl alcohol of 1∶8 after 7 d of reaction. Biosynthesis of the end product, linolenyl dihydrocaffeate, was confirmed by electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy structural analysis; the esterproduct demonstrated an antiradical activity close to that of α-tocopherol.     

Highly Efficient Direct Aerobic Oxidative Esterification of Cinnamyl Alcohol with Alkyl Alcohols Catalysed by Gold Nanoparticles Incarcerated in a Nanoporous Polymer Matrix: A Tool for Investigating the Role of the Polymer Host

The selective aerobic oxidation of cinnamyl alcohol to cinnamaldehyde, as well as direct oxidative esterification of this alcohol with primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols, were achieved with high chemoselectivity by using gold nanoparticles supported in a nanoporous semicrystalline multi‐block copolymer matrix, which consisted of syndiotactic polystyrene‐co‐cis‐1,4‐polybutadiene. The cascade reaction that leads to the alkyl cinnamates occurs through two oxidation steps: the selective oxidation of cinnamyl alcohol to cinnamaldehyde, followed by oxidation of the hemiacetal that results from the base‐catalysed reaction of cinnamaldehyde with an aliphatic alcohol. The rate constants for the two steps were evaluated in the temperature range 10–45 °C. The cinnamyl alcohol oxidation is faster than the oxidative esterification of cinnamaldehyde with methanol, ethanol, 2‐propanol, 1‐butanol, 1‐hexanol or 1‐octanol. The rate constants of the latter reaction are pseudo‐zero order with respect to the aliphatic alcohol and decrease as the bulkiness of the alcohol is increased. The activation energy (E_a) for the two oxidation steps was calculated for esterification of cinnamyl alcohol with 1‐butanol (E_a=57.8±11.5 and 62.7±16.7 kJ mol^?1 for the first and second step, respectively). The oxidative esterification of cinnamyl alcohol with 2‐phenylethanol follows pseudo‐first‐order kinetics with respect to 2‐phenylethanol and is faster than observed for other alcohols because of fast diffusion of the aromatic alcohol in the crystalline phase of the support. The kinetic investigation allowed us to assess the role of the polymer support in the determination of both high activity and selectivity in the title reaction.     

Studies on the factors that affect stereoselective esterification of (R,S) 2-octanol with octanoic acid catalyzed by lipase in organic solvent

Stereoselective esterification of(R, S) 2-octanol with octanoic acid catalyzed byCandida Sp lipase (CSL) was carried out in cyclohexane. We have studied the effects of factors, such as temperature and the microenvironment of lipase, on this reaction. The results showed that CSL favoredR enantiomer of(R, S) 2-octanol, and that the esterification activity and stereoselectivity of the lipase were dependent on these factors. The higher the temperature, the greater the esterification activity of CSL. A slight increase in stereoselectivity can be seen with temperature decrease. The optimal range of pH value for this reaction was 4.9–6.2. When the salt concentration was between 0 and 0.05 mol/L, CSL showed high activity. The salt concentration in the reaction system and the pH value at which CSL powder was prepared from the aqueous solution had no evident effect on the stereoselectivity of CSL. The optimal range of the water content in the reaction system was 0.4–1.6%. The esterification activity and the stereoselectivity of CSL were enhanced 1.4-fold and 2.0-fold, respectively, by immediately removing the produced water. (S) 2-octanol with 95.2% enantiomeric excess (ee) was prepared. Based on these results, we have discussed why that all these factors affected this reaction.     

Phenylsulfonic Acid Functionalized Mesoporous Silica Catalyzed Transetherification of Alcohols with Dimethoxymethane

Phenylsulfonic acid functionalized mesoporous silica was synthesized by condensation of tetraethylorthosilicate with phenyltrimethoxysilane, and then sulfonation using 30% fuming sulfuric acid. The material was characterized using FT‐IR, DSC, XPS, TEM and N2 adsorption/desorption measurements. DSC revealed that sulfonic acid group of the catalyst was decomposed at 354.8°C, indicating that the catalyst exhibited high thermal stability. XPS showed that there existed three kinds of different silicon species on surface of the catalyst. The catalytic performance of the catalyst was evaluated using transetherification of alcohols with dimethoxymethane. It was found that among primary alcohols, the selectivities of the two long‐chain alcohols for n‐dedocanol and n‐tetradecyl alcohol were higher than 97.0% at the conversions of 43.6% and 65.3%, respectively, while the selectivities of the short‐chain alcohols except for n‐hexanol were less than 90.0% at the conversions of over 80.0%. Due to steric barrier, the secondary alcohols such as iso‐butanol and cyclohexanol afforded conversions of 79.4% and 60.5%, and the selectivities of the two alcohols were more than 90.0%. The sequence in conversion of the substituted phenols is as follows: p‐nitrophenol>p‐fluorophenol≥p‐bromophenol>p‐cresol>m‐cresol.     

Treatment of acidic palm oil for fatty acid methyl esters production

Acidic crude palm oil (ACPO) produced from palm oil mills with an acid value of 18 mg g⁻¹ was considered to be a possible feedstock for biodiesel production. Due to its high acidity, conventional transesterification cannot be applied directly for biodiesel production. Methane sulphonic acid (MSA, CH₃SO₃H) is used to reduce the acidity prior to the alkaline transesterification reaction. The laboratory-scale experiments involved an MSA to ACPO dosage of 0.25–3.5 %, a molar ratio (methanol to ACPO) from 4: 1 to 20: 1, reaction temperature of 40–80°C, reaction time of 3–150 min, and stirrer speed of 100–500 min⁻¹. The optimum esterification reaction conditions were 1 % of catalyst to ACPO, with a molar ratio of methanol to ACPO of 8: 1, a stirring speed of 300 min⁻¹, for 30 min and at 60°C. Under these conditions, the FFA content was reduced from 18 mg g⁻¹ to less than 1 mg g⁻¹ and with a yield of 96 %. The biodiesel produced met the EN14214 standard specifications. MSA was recycled for three times without losing its activity. The biodiesel produced in a two-stage process has a low acid value (0.14 mg g⁻¹).     

Ester synthesis catalyzed by Mucor miehei lipase immobilized on magnetic polysiloxane-polyvinyl alcohol particles

Mucor miehei lipase was immobilized on magnetic polysiloxane-polyvinyl alcohol particles by covalent binding with high activity recovered. The performance of the resulting immobilized biocatalyst was evaluated in the synthesis of flavor esters using heptane as solvent. The impact on reaction rate was determined for enzyme concentration, molar ratio of the reactants, carbon chain length of the reactants, and alcohol structure. Ester synthesis was maximized for substrates containing excess acyl donor and lipase loading of 25 mg/mL. The biocatalyst selectivity for the carbon chain length was found to be different concerning the organic acids and alcohols. High reaction rates were achieved for organic acids with 8 or 10 carbons, whereas increasing the alcohol carbon chain length from 4 to 8 carbons gave much lower esterification yields. Optimal reaction rate was determined for the synthesis of butyl caprylate (12 carbons). Esterification performance was also dependent on the alcohol structure, with maximum activity occurring for primary alcohol. Secondary and tertiary alcohols decreased the reaction rates by more than 40%.     

Standard partial molar volumes of alcohols in aqueous dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide solutions

Density measurements of water-dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB)-alcohol ternary systems as a function of alcohol and surfactant concentrations were carried out at 25°C. The alcohols were propanol (PrOH), 2-propanol (2-PrOH) and hexanol (HexOH). The apparent molar volume V_,R of alcohols have been calculated and the standard (infinite dilution) partial molar volumes of alcohols V _R at each surfactant concentration were obtained by means of a least squares fit of V_,R vs. the alcohol concentration. The V _R vs. surfactant concentration curves have been rationalized in terms of the partial molar volume of alcohol in the aqueous V _f and the micellar V _b phases and the distribution constant of alcohol between the aqueous and the micellar phases K. The V _b values for PrOH and HexOH together with those of butanol and pentanol previously reported satisfy the additivity rule giving a methylene group contribution of 16.7 cm³-mol^–1 which is identical to that reported in the literature from the study of pure liquid alcohols. No difference between V _b for PrOH and 2-PrOH has been found. From density data of water-alcohol and water-surfactant binary systems and of water-surfactant-alcohol ternary system, the apparent molar volume of the surfactant in the water-alcohol mixed solvent V_,S have been calculated as a function of the surfactant concentration and of the mixed solvent composition. The effect of the alkyl chain length of the alcohols and the effect of isomerization of the alcohols on the V_,S vs. surfactant concentration trends have been analyzed.