85–95% of conversion was achieved after 6 h of incubation. The patterns
of ethanol supply were slightly different in each experiment.
Yet, the conversion process recorded by TLC could be called as “an
average reaction” according to its scheme of ethanol feeding (in
comparison to three other experiments monitored by GC).
It does not seem to be possible to go above 95% of conversion
in one step because of (i) the accumulated products (glycerol
and water) and (ii) sensitivity of Novozyme TL HC to high concentrations
of alcohol. Different scenarios of the second step with
removed glycerol and water are currently under investigation.