Enzymatic synthesis of fatty esters in 5‐caffeoyl quinic acid

The fatty esters of 5‐caffeoyl quinic acid were synthesized by direct esterification biocatalysed by an immobilised lipase obtained from Candida antarctica. Esterification yields (from 40 to 75%) depended on the carbon chain length of the fatty alcohols and whether or not solvent (2‐methyl 2‐butanol) was present in the reaction medium.     

Synthesis of fatty acid esters from acid oils using lipase B from Candida antarctica

Esterification of corn and sunflower acid oils with straight‐ and branched‐chain alcohols were conducted using lipase B from Candida antarctica (Novozym 435) in n‐hexane. Sunflower acid oil consisted of 55.6% free fatty acids and 24.7% triacylglycerols, while the free fatty acids and triacylglycerols contents of corn acid oil were 75.3% and 8.6%, respectively. After 1.5 h of methanolysis of sunflower acid oil, the highest fatty acid methyl ester content (63.6%) was obtained at 40 °C and the total fatty acid/methanol molar ratio was 1/1, using 15% enzyme based on acid oil weight. The conversion of both acid oils with straight‐ and branched‐chain alcohols was not significantly affected by the chain length of the alcohols. However, the lowest fatty acid methyl ester content (50%) was obtained in the reaction of corn acid oil with methanol. Sunflower acid oil was converted to fatty acid esters using primer alcohols such as n‐propanol, i‐ and n‐butanol, n‐amylalcohols, n‐octanol, and a mixture of amylalcohol isomers, resulting in a fatty acid ester content of about 70% at 40 °C.     

Lipase‐catalyzed alcoholysis of vegetable oils

Fatty acid alkyl esters were produced from various vegetable oils by transesterification with different alcohols using immobilized lipases. Using n‐hexane as organic solvent, all immobilized lipases tested were found to be active during methanolysis. Highest conversion (97%) was observed with Thermomyces lanuginosa lipase after 24 h. In contrast, this lipase was almost inactive in a solvent‐free reaction medium using methanol or 2‐propanol as alcohol substrates. This could be overcome by a three‐step addition of methanol, which works efficiently for a range of vegetable oils (e.g. cottonseed, peanut, sunflower, palm olein, coconut and palm kernel) using immobilized lipases from Pseudomonas fluorescens (AK lipase) and Rhizomucor miehei (RM lipase). Repeated batch reactions showed that Rhizomucor miehei lipase was very stable over 120 h. AK and RM lipases also showed acceptable conversion levels for cottonseed oil with ethanol, 1‐propanol, 1‐butanol and isobutanol (50‐65% conversion after 24 h) in solvent‐free conditions. Methyl and isopropyl fatty acid esters obtained by enzymatic alcoholysis of natural vegetable oils can find application in biodiesel fuels and cosmetics industry, respectively.     

Improvement in the gas chromatographic resolution of petroselinate from oleate

In the extraction of oils from seeds of the genus Coriandrum, GC separations of petroselinate from oleate often gave poor resolution of these two isomers. Oleic and petroselinic acids were esterified with a series of alcohols (methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol, 1-butanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol). GC resolution of the Δ6 from the Δ9 and Δ11 octadecenoates was examined for all ester derivatives on a polar phase column. The Δ6 and Δ9 isomers were unresolved as methyl esters; however, the 2-ethyl-1-hexyl esters gave baseline separation of all three isomers under temperature programming conditions. When isothermal conditions were optimized for each ester, separation of these isomers was possible with good resolution values (>89%) for all the alcohols except methanol, which had a partial resolution of 51%. The rates of esterification of all the alcohols were determined for reactions with both oleic acid and triolein using potassium hydroxide as the esterification catalyst. Methanol gave the largest rate constant in both acid and oil esterification reactions with a rate constant 10-fold better than all of the other alcohols. Based on rates of reaction, resolution of petroselinate from oleate, and removal of residual alcohol, the ethyl ester derivative appears to be the best choice for seed oils containing petroselinic acid.     

Surfactant Synthesis via Lipase Esterification of Methyl α-d-Glucopyranoside with Selected Aliphatic Carboxylic Acids

Lipase‐catalyzed esterification and properties of synthesized carbohydrate esters were investigated. Methyl α‐d ‐glucopyranoside was the acyl group acceptor and different carbon atom chain lengths of aliphatic carboxylic acids (C12, C14 and C16) as the acyl group donors were applied in the esterification. Physico‐chemical studies on the synthesized carbohydrate esters were carried out. It was found that melting point for the methyl 6‐O‐hexadecanoyl‐α‐d ‐glucopyranoside was the highest consecutively followed by methyl 6‐O‐tetradecanoyl‐α‐d ‐glucopyranoside and methyl 6‐O‐dodecanoyl‐α‐d ‐glucopyranoside. Liquid crystal properties of the synthesized carbohydrate ester synthesized were evaluated via optical polarized microscopy. It was found that the liquid crystal textures for mono‐substituted carbohydrate esters were of the smectic phase. In a quaternary system (carbohydrate ester/n‐butanol/n‐hexadecane/water), a maximum 34 % of water (by mass) was contained in the monophasic region of methyl 6‐O‐tetradecanoyl‐α‐d ‐glucopyranoside and a maximum of 52 % water (by mass) was contained in a monophasic methyl 6‐O‐dodecanoyl‐α‐d ‐glucopyranoside. For methyl‐6‐O‐dodecanoyl‐α‐d ‐glucopyranoside, its concentration at aggregation was 5.2 × 10^?4 mM, with minimum air/water surface tension of 26 mN m^?1. The Gibbs energy of micellization was calculated at ?50 kJ mol^?1. The maximum adsorption density of methyl 6‐O‐dodecanoyl‐α‐d ‐glucopyranoside was determined at 4 × 10^?6 mol m^?2 while its minimum area per surfactant molecule at the air/water surface was 47 Ų.     

Chemical Characterization and Physical Properties of Solvents Derived from Epoxidized Methyl Soyate

Reactions of epoxidized methyl soyate (EMS) with alcohols, carbon dioxide, and acetone yielded liquids with solvent properties that make them more suitable than methyl soyate for dissolving polar substances. The reactions of EMS in the presence of Amberlyst‐15 with alcohols, including methanol, ethanol, n‐butanol, and 2‐methoxyethanol, produced a series of solvents containing ether (–OR) and alcohol (–OH) groups. Reactions of EMS with carbon dioxide and acetone gave products with carbonate and ketonide functional groups, respectively. The complex mixture of compounds present in the product, EMS(MeOH), resulting from the reaction of EMS with MeOH, was characterized by MS and NMR investigations. In addition to products resulting from MeOH addition across the epoxide ring, were major amounts of cyclic tetrahydrofuran derivatives that were derived from reactions of methyl linoleate (18:2) with MeOH. All of the solvents were characterized by high boiling points and low vapor pressures. Their viscosities were higher than that of methyl soyate. Especially notable were their very high Kauri‐butanol values, which ranged from 280 to 852, all of which are much higher than that (57) of methyl soyate. Such high KB values indicate that these solvents have very favorable solubilizing properties, which is illustrated by the ability of EMS(MeOH) to readily dissolve both polar (e.g., MeOH) and non‐polar (e.g., hexane) compounds.     

Enzymatic production of fatty acid alkyl esters with a lipase preparation from Candida sp. 99‐125

A lipase preparation developed from Candida sp. 99‐125 was used for fatty acid alkyl ester synthesis by both enzymatic esterification of fatty acids, and transesterification of oils and fats. The lipase preparation was chosen based on screening of lipases from commercial sources as well as those produced in the laboratory. The effects of enzyme dosage, solvent types, water absorbent additions, inhibition of short‐chain alcohols, alcohol and acid types, molar ratio of substrates, and reusability of the lipase preparation in esterification were studied. Degree of esterification between oleic acid and methanol under optimal conditions reached 92%. Purity of the methyl ester after washing with water and distillation was 98%. Half‐life of the lipase preparation was calculated to be approximately 340 h. For transesterification of rapeseed oil with the same lipase preparation, the amount of methanol and mode of methanol addition to the reaction were also conducted. Transesterification of the oil with stepwise methanol addition reached 83% after 36 h reaction time.     

Methanolysis of triacylglycerols by organic basic catalysts

Methanolysis of rapeseed and soybean oil was studied using organic basic catalysts at boiling with reflux. The molar ratio methanol/free fatty acids (FFA) amounted to approx 2.8 : 1. The catalyst (guanidine carbonate) is used at concentrations between 0.5 and 1.3 wt‐% with respect to the oil. During boiling at reflux, guanidine carbonate disintegrates into guanidine and gaseous carbon dioxide. This is a very special reaction; other alcohols such as ethanol, propanol, etc. do not react in this way with guanidine carbonate. Under these conditions, the reaction mixture consists of two phases. The catalyst is mainly dissolved in the methanol phase. The rate of the phase transfer reaction is increased by stirring. With guanidine carbonate as a catalyst, neutralized rapeseed oil yielded, within 45 min and in one step, a product that meets the European Norm for biodiesel. Degummed and dried crude rapeseed oil contains ca. 1 wt‐% FFA, whereas crude degummed and dried soybean oil contains 0.3–0.7 wt‐% FFA. During catalysis with guanidine carbonate, the FFA are transformed into their methyl esters to about 60–70% at low concentrations in the crude oil (approximately up to 1–1.5%). Neutralization of the degummed and dried crude oil proved to be unnecessary in such cases.     

Synthesis of oxygenated fatty acid esters from santalbic acid ester

The reaction of methyl octadec-trans-11-en-9-ynoate (1) with mercuric sulfate in the presence or absence of sulfuric acid is described. Treatment of 1 with mercuric sulfate in absolute methanol yielded methyl 9(10)-oxoocta-dec-trans-11-enoates (Product A). This product, upon treatment withm-chloroperbenzoic acid, afforded methyltrans-11,12-epoxy-9-oxooctadecanoate (4) and methyl 10-oxooctadec-trans-11-enoate (2). Sodium borohydride reduction of A furnished the corresponding hydroxy esters. The treatment of 1 with mercuric sulfate in the presence of sulfuric acid gave as major product methyl 9(10)-oxo-11(12)-methoxyoctadecanoates and methyl 9(10)-oxoocta-dec-trans-11-enoates as a minor product. When methyl 11,12-epoxyoctadec-9-ynoate was reacted with acid in methanol, methyl 12-hydroxy-11-methoxyoctadec-9-ynoate was formed, which on treatment with zinc chloride in CCl₄ yielded methyl 9,12-epoxyoctadec-9,11-dienoate exclusively. The preparation of oxo fatty esters from the total methyl esters ofSantalum album was also demonstrated. The structures of the products were established by chemical derivatization and spectral characterization.     

Synthesis of wide-pore alumina support from gibbsite

Gibbsite was treated in a series of primary alcohols at 250°C for 2 h. The surface area of the product increased with the increase in the carbon number of alcohol and reached a maximum when hexanol was used. Pore texture of aluminas, obtained by the calcination of these products, was investigated by means of the nitrogen adsorption technique. The aluminas prepared from the products of the treatment in alcohols other than propanol and butanol had a pore texture identical to the pore texture of the alumina from well-crystallized boehmite prepared by hydrothermal treatment of gibbsite. The pore texture of these aluminas was characterized by the presence of micropores. The aluminas prepared from the treatments in butanol and propanol had quite different pore texture. Micropores were not detected in these aluminas: instead, mesopores of c. 20 nm range were detected. These results are consistent with the reaction mechanisms for the formation of boehmite proposed in a previous paper on the basis of morphology of the products. In lower alcohols boehmite is formed by means of a resolution-crystallization mechanism, whereas in higher alcohols boehmite is formed by means of intraparticle hydrothermal reaction. In butanol and propanol, boehmite is crystallized from the alcoholic media and has a large population of crystal defects; therefore, pore texture of aluminas derived from these products resembles the aluminas from poorly crystallized aluminum hydroxides.     

The relation between the adsorption characteristics of polar organic compounds (alcohols and acids) and their orientation polarization on activated carbon

The high temperature adsorption of n-alcohols (methanol, ethanol, propanol and butanol) and the aliphatic acids (formic, acetic, propionic and buteric) was studied on steam activated carbon using micro Chromatographic technique. In the light of the theory of polarization, it was found that the adsorption of these polar alcohols depends on their orientation polarization. A relation was found between the high temperature adsorption characteristics and the orientation polarization of the alcohols and the aliphatic acids on activated carbon.     

Reaction Kinetics of Steam Reforming of n‐Butanol over a Ni/Hydrotalcite Catalyst

Pyrolytic lignin can be transformed to liquid transportation fuels by hydrotreatment, which requires hydrogen (H₂). Bio‐oil is a suitable renewable feedstock for H₂ production. Here, n‐butanol was chosen as a model compound representing alcohols in the bio‐oil aqueous fraction. H₂ production from steam reforming of n‐butanol was investigated in a fixed‐bed reactor using a commercial Ni/hydrotalcite catalyst. A plausible reaction pathway in the presence of Ni was discussed. An increase in reforming temperature, space time, and steam/carbon ratio in the feed enhanced the n‐butanol conversion and H₂ yield. Reaction kinetics was studied in the defined chemical control regime. The reaction order with respect to n‐butanol (one) and the activation energy were determined.     

The Synthesis of trans‐Perhydroindolic Acids and their Application in Asymmetric Domino Reactions of Aldehyde Esters with β,γ‐Unsaturated α‐Keto Esters

(2S,3aR,7aS)‐Perhydroindolic acid, the key intermediate in the synthesis of trandolapril, and its trans‐isomers, were readily prepared. These proline‐like molecules are unique in that they contain a rigid bicyclic structure, with two hydrogen atoms trans to each other at the bridgehead carbon atoms. These molecules were used successfully as chiral organocatalysts in asymmetric domino Michael addition/cyclization reactions of aldehyde esters with β,γ‐unsaturated α‐keto esters. They proved to have excellent catalytic behavior, allowing for the synthesis of multi‐substituted, enantiomerically enriched hemiacetal esters. Under optimal conditions (using 10 mol% catalyst loading), a series of β,γ‐unsaturated α‐keto esters was examined with up to 99% de, ee and yield, respectively. Additionally, the enantiomerically enriched hemiacetal esters could be readily transformed into their corresponding bioactive pyrano[2,3‐b]pyrans (possessing a multi‐substituted bicyclic backbone).     

In situ esterification of rice bran oil with methanol and ethanol

In situ esterifications of high-acidity rice bran oil with methanol and ethanol and with sulfuric acid as catalyst were investigated. In the esterification with methanol, all free fatty acids (FFA) dissolved in methanol were interesterified within 15 min, and it was possible to obtain nearly pure methyl esters. The amount of methyl esters obtained from a given rice bran was dependent on the FFA content of the rice bran oil. In the esterification with ethanol, it was not possible to obtain pure esters as in methanol esterification, because the solubilities of oil components in ethanol were much higher than those in methanol.     

Esterification and interesterification

A versatile and large group of fatty acid esters are prepared from monohydroxy alcohols (C₁ to C₂₂ members), glycols (ethylene and propylene glycols and others), etherglycols (many polyoxyethylene glycols), triols (glycerol and others), tetraols (pentaerythritol and others), polyglycerols, carbohydrate materials (sorbitol, sorbitan, sucrose and others). The two most important direct esterifications of fatty acids are those done with monohydroxy alcohols (methanol, butanol, etc.) and glycerol itself. Esterifications of these materials are carried out with or without the use of catalysts. For edible ester products, the choice of catalyst is determined by (a) rate of reaction promotion permitted by the use of the catalyst; (b) color of product obtained; (c) ease of removal of catalyst; (d) toxicity of catalyst, and perhaps; (e) other factors including promotion of acrolein formation from glycerol, loss by volatilization at high temperatures, inactivation above certain threshold temperatures, and catalyst corrosivity on the materials of construction of the esterifier. In certain instances the last factor may indeed be the paramount one in a particular catalyst choice for a direct esterification. Industrial production of methyl esters is principally by a process of interesterification called methanolysis. Polyols require conditions for complete esterification that are vigorous and severe. The two most important interesterification methods used in the fatty acid industry are the methanolysis of fats and oils for the production of methyl esters and the glycerolysis of fats and oils for the production of three kinds of so-called “monoglycerides”, namely the 40%, 60% and 90% monoglycerides.     

Producing Fatty Acid Methyl Esters from Free Fatty Acids with Ionic Liquids as Catalyst

Three Brønsted acidic imidazole dicationic ionic liquids (ILs) with different length of alkyl chains, [C_n(Mim)₂][HSO₄]₂ (n = 3, 6, 12), were prepared and used as catalyst for the esterification reaction of free fatty acids and methanol. Taking oleic acid as model acid, the catalytic performances of the synthesized ILs for the esterification were evaluated. The main physicochemical properties of the ILs, thermal stability, acidity, solubility in common solvents, and causticity on Austenitic stainless steel 316, were examined. [C₃(Mim)₂][HSO₄]₂ demonstrated the highest catalytic activity and enabled to assess the preliminary optimum esterification condition of oleic acid and methanol. Under optimized reaction conditions, the yield of oleic acid methyl ester was up to 95 %. The ILs have great potential as catalysts for producing fatty acid methyl esters from long‐chain free fatty acids.     

Selection of alcohols through Plackett-Burman design in lipase-catalyzed synthesis of anthranilic acid esters

Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of esters of anthranilic acid was attempted by employing alcohols of carbon chainlength C₁–C₁₈ using Plackett-Burman experimental design. Of the alcohols employed, methanol, decanol, cetyl alcohol, and stearyl alcohols showed 99.9% significance. Esterification of anthranilic acid with methanol gave the highest yield at 45.6%. This study allows the selection of better alcohols for esterification of anthranilic acid.     

Synthesis and Surface Active Properties of Sulfonated Acrylate Esters Based on Al‐Cedre Oil

Sulfonated acrylate esters have been synthesized by using renewable raw materials such as fatty alcohols of Al‐Ceder oil. Mixed fatty acids were isolated from Al‐Ceder oil by hydrolysis; both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were isolated from the mixed fatty acids. The methyl esters of mixed fatty acid, saturated and unsaturated acids of Al‐Cedre oil were subjected to reduction with (LiAlH4) to give the corresponding fatty alcohols. The products of the reduction process were saponified and the hydroxyl values were estimated to further confirm the reduction occurrence. The acrylate esters were synthesized by esterification of acrylic acid with fatty alcohols of C_16:0, C_18:0, C_18:1, and C_18:2 mixed saturated, mixed unsaturated and mixed fatty acids of Al‐Cedre oil, respectively. This esterification was followed by addition of NaHSO₃ to form bisulfite adducts. The structures of the prepared surfactants were characterized by IR and ¹HNMR spectroscopy. A series of useful surface parameters, stability towards acids and base hydrolysis and calcium stability have been determined.     

Radiation‐induced graft copolymerization of methylmethacrylate onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene‐co‐ethylene) film

Modification of poly(tetrafluoroethylene‐co‐ethylene), Tefzel (ETFE), film has been carried out by grafting methylmethacrylate (MMA) by radiation method including preirradiation and double‐irradiation methods. Percentage of grafting has been determined as a function of the (i) total dose, (ii) monomer concentration, (iii) amount of liquor ratio, (iv) reaction time, and (v) temperature.The effect of different alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, 2‐propanol, n‐butanol, n‐pentanol, and 2‐ethoxy ethanol on percentage of grafting of MMA was also studied. The graft copolymers were characterized by IR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Methylmethacrylate produces higher percentage of grafting by preirradiaton method than double‐irradiation method. MMA‐grafted ETFE films (S_irr), i.e., prepared by preirradiation involving single irradiation show better thermal stability than MMA‐grafted ETFE films (D_irr), i.e., prepared by double irradiation and unmodified ETFE film. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Study on the Synthesis of n‐Butyl Acetate by Catalytic Rectification

With Hβ zeolite as the catalyst and θ rings as the fillings, the technological process of synthesizing n‐butyl acetate with acetic acid and n‐butanol in a Φ 30 mm and 2 m tall catalytic rectifying column was studied. The influence of factors such as catalyst loading height, material feed site, reflux ratio and feed rate on the esterification reaction and the rectification effect was investigated. The study results suggested that the appropriate conditions of n‐butyl acetate synthesis by catalytic rectification include: The height ratio of the rectifying section, the reaction section and the stripping section is 1:1:1; acetic acid and n‐butanol are fed in upside and downside of the reaction section, respectively; the reflux ratio is 2.5; the liquid hourly space velocity of n‐butanol is 0.64 h^–1. Under these conditions, the mass fraction of n‐butyl acetate in the column bottom is 98.64 %, and the total yield of n‐butyl acetate is 91.5 %.