Application of lipase bearing dead mycelia as biocatalyst for octyl-octanoate synthesis

The present study scrutinizes lipases of different origins, immobilization methods, carriers, and reaction solvents to accelerate the octyl octanoate synthesis. The acylation reaction parameters including temperature, moisture level, shaking speed and enzyme dose were subsequently investigated and optimized following fully rotatable central composite design. The initial screening revealed that lipases of Rhizopus arrhizus, when applied as a biocatalyst (lipase bearing dead mycelia) furnished the highest acylation activity (147 μM L^-1 min^-1). Validation of reaction conditions disclosed that 250 I.U. of lipase based biocatalyst when incubated with 850 mM of acylating agent and 750 mM of the substrate at 35 °C, 3% moisture level and 150 RPM shaking speed produced 70% acylation yield with an acylation activity higher than 147 μM L^-1 min^-1. The observed results certify that lipase bearing dead mycelia of R. arrhizus might be an intelligent biocatalyst to manipulate the yield of acylation reactions encountered in the food industry.