-Pär Tufvesson, Lund University and Annika Karlsson, Akzo Nobel Surfactants Europe

Biocatalysis has been suggested as an alternative to traditional chemistry as enzymes are known to effectively and specifically catalyse many reactions under mild reaction conditions, saving energy and preventing by-product formation.

Researchers from Lund University in collaboration with Akzo Nobel have investigated the possibility of using enzyme-catalysed synthesis of fatty alkanolamides, environmentally benign surfactants useful in a wide range of applications from shampoos to hard surface cleaners. Alkanolamides are conventionally manufactured by reacting a fatty acid or fatty methyl ester with an alkanolamine at high temperatures (usually 180 ºC).

Lauric acid was reacted with monoethanolamine at 90ºC using a lipase from the thermophile Candida antarctica immobilised on a polymeric resin. High yields were obtained (>90%) in 4 hours by a controlled addition of the amine and by removing the water formed. Stability studies of the enzyme preparation showed a half-life of 14 days. Further studies have shown that this stability can be much improved by running at 80ºC using a packed-bed setup.

Reference: Tufvesson et al, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Vol. 97, No. 3, June 15, 2007