Lipase catalyzed epoxidation of fatty acid methyl esters derived from unsaturated vegetable oils in absence of carboxylic acid

摘要

Nowadays the industrial chemistry reactions rely on green technologies. Enzymes as lipases are increasing its use indiverse chemical processes. Epoxidized fatty acid methyl esters obtained from transesterifcation of vegetable oilshave recently found applications as polymer plasticizer, agrochemical, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food addi?tives. In this research article, grapeseed, avocado and olive oils naturally containing high percents of mono and polyunsaturations were used as starting materials for the production of unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters. The efectof lauric acid as an active oxygen carrier was studied on epoxidation reactions where unsaturated fatty acid methylesters were converted to epoxy fatty acid methyl esters using immobilized Candida antarctica Lipase type B as catalystand hydrogen peroxide as oxygen donor at mild temperature and pressure conditions. After this study it was con?frmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and GC–MS that the addition of lauric acid to the enzymatic reaction is unnecessary totransform the alkenes in to epoxides. It was found that quantitative conversions were possible in despite of a carbox?ylic acid absence.