The use of new hydrogel microcapsules in coconut juice as biocatalyst system for the reaction of quinine

[Display omitted] •Enzymes from Cocos nucifera were immobilized on activated sodium alginate.•The protein encapsulation percentages obtained were 98.1%, with a unimodal distribution with medium size around 760 μm.•Enzymatic esterification reaction in normal condition.•The catalyst microcapsules were reactive with acetylation reactions and by some alcohols. Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) juice has been immobilized onto hydrogel microcapsules, and its performance in the bio-acylation of quinine has been evaluated. Under optimized conditions, the biocatalyst has been used for acetylation reactions with several advantages. The protein encapsulation percentages obtained were 98.1%, with an unimodal distribution with a medium size of around 760 μm. The morphology of lyophilized microcapsules was observed by Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM), which partially retained their structure. The catalyst microcapsules were reactive with acetylation reactions and by some alcohols.