(96b) Enzymatic Synthesis of Medium-Chain Partial Glycerides in Solvent-Free Media Using up-Flow Reactor

Enzymatic synthesis of medium-chain partial glyceride without solvent was investigated using an enzyme packed bed reactor (EPBR). In the up-flow EPBR, at 55^o C, with an initial water content in glycerol of 12% (w/w), glycerol: caprylic acid of 1.1:1 (mol/mol) and a space velocity of 2.5 min^-1, conversion of caprylic acid reached 90.2% after 6 recycles in 4 h. The EPBR represented a good operating stability; conversion of the carbonic acid dropped only 6.5% for caprylic acid, and 4.5% for capric acid after running 30 days.