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Ionic liquids as a reaction medium for lipase-catalyzed methanolysis of sunflower oil

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Abstract

Ionic liquids, 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIm][PF6]) and 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([EMIm][PF6]), were used for the methanolysis of sunflower oil using Candida antarctica lipase (Novozyme 435) and gave yields of fatty acid methyl esters at 98–99% within 10 h. The optimum conditions of methanolysis in hydrophobic ionic liquids are 2% (w/w) lipase, 1:1 (w/w) oil/ionic liquid and 1:8 (mol/mol) oil/methanol at 58–60°C. Methanolysis using hydrophilic ionic liquids, 3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([HMIm][BF4]) and 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIm][BF4]), gave very poor yields. A hydrophobic ionic liquid thus protects the lipase from methanol. Recovered ionic liquids and lipase were used for four successive reaction cycles without any significant loss of activity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lipid Science and Technology Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500 007, India

    S. Sunitha, S. Kanjilal, P. S. Reddy & R. B. N. Prasad

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  1. S. Sunitha
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  2. S. Kanjilal
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  3. P. S. Reddy
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  4. R. B. N. Prasad
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Correspondence to R. B. N. Prasad.

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Sunitha, S., Kanjilal, S., Reddy, P.S. et al. Ionic liquids as a reaction medium for lipase-catalyzed methanolysis of sunflower oil. Biotechnol Lett 29, 1881–1885 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-007-9471-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-007-9471-x

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