High Efficient Synthesis of Enzymatic 2-Ethylhexyl Ferulate at Solvent-Free and Reduced Pressure Evaporation System

The use of immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica (Novozym 435) to catalyze ferulic acid of esterification was investigated in this study. The synthesis product was analyzed using HPLC. The results revealed that the major product was 2-ethylhexyl ferulate. Response surface methodology and 3-level-3-factor central composite rotatable design were adopted to evaluate the effects of synthesis variables, including reaction temperature (60 ̊C 80 ̊C), enzyme amount (500 1500 PLU) and reaction time (8 24 h) on the percentage molar conversion of 2-ethylhexyl ferulate. The results showed that reaction temperature and reaction time were the most important parameters on percentage molar conversion. Based on ridge max analysis, the optimum conditions for synthesis were: reaction time 23 h, reaction temperature 71 ̊C and enzyme amount 1422 PLU. The molar conversion of actual experimental values was 98% under optimal conditions.