Synthesis of citronellol laurate in organic media catalyzed by immobilized lipases: kinetic studies

Terpene esters of fatty acid are essential oils that find several uses in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. The current work focuses on the synthesis of citronellol laurate from citronellol and lauric acid, including screening of various immobilized lipases and optimization of reaction conditions such as catalyst loading, speed of agitation, effect of mole ratio and temperature. Among different lipases, Novozym SP 435 was found to be the best catalyst with 53% conversion and 100% selectivity in 2 h at 30 °C. An ordered bi–bi mechanism with dead-end complex of lauric acid was found to represent the kinetic data.