Immobilized Lipases in the Synthesis of Short-Chain Esters: An Overview of Constraints and Perspectives
Ronaldo Rodrigues de Sousa, Michelle M. dos Santos, Matheus W. R. Medeiros, Evelin A. Manoel, Ángel Berenguer‐Murcia, Denise Maria Guimarães Freire, Roberto Fernández‐Lafuente, Viridiana Santana Ferreira-Leitão
Abstract
Biocatalysis—specifically the use of immobilized lipases—has been proposed as a greener alternative for ester production. Several critical challenges, such as the high cost of biocatalysts, are delaying the industrial implementation of biocatalysis. Moreover, for short-chain ester synthesis, the strong inhibition/inactivation potential of short-chain acids and alcohols on lipases leads to long reaction cycles and/or the need to use organic solvents to overcome the limitations of solvent-free systems and, consequently, the decrease in product concentrations. This review presents an overview of the scientific developments in enzymatic short-chain ester synthesis, compiling the constraints on their syntheses from a process perspective, including insights about key performance indicators (KPI) and economic parameters.