Catalytic Synthesis of Ethyl Hexanoate by Immobilized Thermophilic Esterase

Thermophilic esterase APE1547 was successfully immobilized on canvas fiber through physical adsorption. The immobilized APE1547 as a catalyst was used in the synthesis of ethyl hexanoate by esterification of hexanonic acid and alcohol. The optimal reaction conditions at 65 ℃ in n-hexane(20 mL) were as follows: c(hexanonic acid) was 200 mmol·L-1; n(alcohol) ∶n(hexanonic acid) was 1.2 ∶1.0; feed rate was 0.4 mL·min-1. The conversion of hexanonic acid was 85.2% under the optimal conditions.