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Highly effective solvent free esterification of phytosterols employing edible metal oxide-emulsifier as catalyst
Huina Ruan1, Lujing Xu2, Shan Hong3
1Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Fuli Institute of Food Science, Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Agro-Food Processing, Zhejiang R & D Center for Food Technology and Equipment, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China; Songjiang Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, 2001 Rongle Dong Road, Songjiang Area, Shanghai 201613, China.
Abstract:
A general highly efficient solvent-free esterification of phytosterols with edible magnesium oxide and Span-60 emulsifier catalyst system has been developed. The edible emulsifier dramatically promotes the catalyzing activity of the metal oxide in the reaction. The loading of the magnesium oxide is as low as 0.1 wt% to phytosterols and far lower than the known ones. As demonstrated by the results of scanning electro-microscopy (SEM), the synergistic effect of emulsifier and magnesium oxide presumably results from elimination of nano-scale interfacial barrier between phytosterols and fatty acids and facilitation of mass transfer of reaction agents. The mild, environmentally benign, and highly effective nature of this catalytic transformation suggests its great potential applications.
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