Lipase B from C. antarctica immobilized in AOT microemulsions
can effectively catalyze the esterification reaction of stearic acid
with solketal towards solketal monostearate, giving a high conversion
yield (80% in 30 min). The optimum reaction temperature
has been proved to be 40 ◦C. The reaction rate was studied in
relation to the microemulsion’s water content and it was proved
that an increase of the wo was followed by an increase of the
reaction rate. Moreover, the kinetic study of the esterification reaction
revealed that the esterification of solketal with stearic acid
catalyzed by CaL B immobilized in AOT microemulsions occurs
via ordered bi–bi mechanism with dead-end inhibition by stearic
acid.
As a prospective conclusion, our objective would be to take
advantage of the improved conversions of solketal monostearate
synthesis in AOT microemulsions and use this system as a basis for
organogel preparation, which would be used for continuous flow
synthesis of monoacyl glycerols.