Lipase-Assisted Synthesis of Alkyl Stearates: Optimization by Taguchi Design of Experiments and Application as Defoamers

Abstract

The present work proposes the optimization of enzymatic synthesis of alkyl stearates using stearic acid, alkyl alcohols (C1-OH, C2-OH, C4-OH, C8-OH and C16-OH) and Candida rugosa lipase by a L9 (34) Taguchi-type design of experiments. Four variables were evaluated (reaction time, temperature, kU of lipase and alcohol:stearic acid molar ratio), ensuring that all variables were critical. In optimal conditions, five stearates were obtained with conversions > 90%. The obtained products were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Additionally, the defoaming capacity of the five stearates was evaluated, obtaining better performance for the compound synthesized from C8-OH alcohol.