Reaction kinetics for the hydrolysis of tributyrin using an immobilized bacterial lipase

The kinetics of the hydrolysis of tributyrin to free fatty acid and glycerol using bacterial lipase from Staphylococcus carnosus (pLipMut2) was investigated in a packed bed recycle reactor. The effect of reaction temperature, diameter of the support particles, diameter of the oil droplets and recycle rate on the course of reaction were investigated and the results were used to select experimental conditions so the reaction rate would not be limited by mass transfer. A model for predicting the rate of reaction was developed from elementary steps assuming the surface reaction at the active site of the enzyme to be rate limiting. The proposed model describes the influence of substrate concentration on the rate of reaction as well as the inhibitory effect of free fatty acids and glycerol.