Transesterification of palm olein in organic solvent by an immobilized pseudomonas fluorescens lipase

Abstract

The effect of different organic solvents as reaction medium for transesterification of palm olein was studied. The organic solvents used were: dimethylsulphoxide (log P - 1.3), tetrahydrofuran (log P 0.49), diethylether (log P 0.85), heptane (log P 4.0) and isooctane (log P 4.52). Transesterification reaction was carried out at 60°C and 200 rpm for 6 hours using an immobilized lipase from Pseudomonas fluorescens as catalyst.