Abstract

The activity of lipase from Candida cylindracea has been investigated in the detergentless microemulsion media of n-hexane/propan-2-ol/water and in paraffin/water biphasic mixtures. Analysis of the product of hydrolysis, palmitic acid, was by a titrimetric method developed for non-specific assay of free fatty acids in these mixed-solvent media. The enzyme-catalysed hydrolysis of methyl palmitate was very slow in a complete non-aqueous system, but addition of small amounts of water led to an increased rate of reaction at atmospheric pressure and 37°C. The ability of the enzyme to work in these mixed-solvent systems under very favourable experimental conditions makes it particularly amenable to practical and cost-effective transformations.