Chemically vs Enzymatically Synthesized Polyglycerol-Based Esters: A Comparison between Their Surfactancy.

Area of Science:

• Green Chemistry
• Biocatalysis
• Surfactant Science

Background:

• Polyglycerol fatty acid esters (PGFAEs) are versatile surfactants derived from renewable resources.
• Their tunable hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) makes them valuable in various industries.
• Enzymatic synthesis offers a sustainable alternative to chemical esterification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize polyglycerol-2 stearic acid esters (PG2SAEs) using enzymatic esterification.
• To optimize reaction conditions and investigate biocatalyst reusability.
• To compare the properties of enzymatically synthesized PG2SAEs with chemically synthesized ones.

Main Methods:

• Enzymatic esterification of polyglycerol-2 (PG2) and stearic acid (SA) using immobilized lipase Novozym 435.
• Optimization of temperature, reactant ratio, and enzyme loading in a solvent-free system.
• Characterization of products using chromatography and mass spectrometry; evaluation of surfactant properties via interfacial tension and emulsion studies.

Main Results:

• Optimized reaction conditions achieved efficient synthesis of PG2SAEs.
• The biocatalyst (Novozym 435) retained significant activity over 20 recycling cycles.
• Enzymatically synthesized PG2SAEs exhibited comparable or superior emulsifying and stability properties to chemically synthesized products.

Conclusions:

• Enzymatic synthesis provides a sustainable and efficient method for producing PGSAEs.
• The optimized process and reusable biocatalyst highlight the economic viability of this green approach.
• PGSAEs produced via enzymatic routes demonstrate excellent surfactant performance for O/W emulsions.