Investigation of Lipozyme TL IM-catalyzed transesterification using ultraviolet spectrophotometric assay

A novel ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometric method for evaluating lipase transesterification activity in organic solvents is described. The model reaction was lipase-catalyzed transesterification between p -nitrophenyl palmitate (pNPP) and n -butanol in n -hexane at 30 °C. The conversion of pNPP to p -nitrophenol was monitored by measuring UV absorbance changes at 310 nm. Seven commercial lipases were tested using this method, and the results were similar to those obtained using gas chromatography . The UV spectrophotometric method was used to investigate the kinetics of the Lipozyme TL IM-catalyzed reaction of pNPP, and the correlation between synthetic activity and biocatalyst concentration was determined. The method was also used to investigate the Lipozyme TL IM-catalyzed transesterification properties, namely solvent effect, acyl acceptor specificity, alcohol tolerance, optimum reaction temperature, and thermostability.