EFFECT OF THE SURFACTANT ON ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS OF PALM OIL IN MICROEMULSION

Lipase catalyzed hydrolysis of a triglyceride, palm oil, was performed in L2 type microemulsions based on different surfactants. Isooctane was used as hydrocarbon and the composition of the microemulsions was the same in all experiments. NMR self-diffusion measurements indicated that all microemulsions consisted of closed water droplets and that the structure did not change much during the course of the reaction. The hydrolysis was fast in the microemulsions based on branched-chain anionic or nonionic surfactant but very slow when a branched cationic or a linear nonionic surfactant was used. The cationic surfactant was found to form aggregates with the enzyme. No such interactions were detected with the other surfactants.